Rivers Hoopers unstoppable at NPBL playoffs

Rivers Hoopers maintained their perfect record at the ongoing 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Playoffs after overpowering Gboko City Chiefs 83-65 in overtime on Wednesday.

The Hoopers recovered from a slow start, when the Chiefs raced into a 9-2 lead, to level the first quarter at 17-17.

In a grueling and physical encounter, Rivers Hoopers edged ahead 29-23 at halftime before Gboko steadily fought back in the second half to set up a dramatic finish.

What appeared to be a routine closing stretch turned into a thriller when Gboko’s Marcus Thomas Jr. sank a corner three-pointer with just 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 59-59 and force overtime.

Undeterred by the late setback, the KingsMen took complete control in overtime, outscoring the Chiefs 24-6.

With Rivers Hoopers leading 69-61, they produced a stunning display from beyond the arc, hitting four consecutive three-pointers during a game-changing 12-0 run.

Tunisian playmaker Omar Abada was at the heart of the surge, sinking three straight three-pointers to send the home crowd into a frenzy.

The victory extended Rivers Hoopers’ dominance in what has become a one-sided modern rivalry, marking their sixth consecutive win over the Chiefs.

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“I can’t say I enjoyed it because the way the fans look at it and the way I see it is quite different,” Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu said after the intense battle.

“We should have won the game in regulation, but we slipped up. [However] It’s a good thing that we came to overtime and took control.”

Odaudu was particularly pleased with Abada’s decisive contribution and suggested that the star point guard is yet to reach his best.

“Very, very, very pleased. And his best is yet to come.

“The heat is bothering him a little… So watch out for Omar in the coming games,” he said.