Rivers Hoopers have been crowned Nigeria Premier Basketball League champions after defeating Hoops and Read 71-54 in the final at the Basketball Stadium in Old Port Harcourt Township on Monday.
The KingsMen clinched their second consecutive title and sixth in franchise history with a commanding performance in front of their home fans.
The Port Harcourt-based team finished the season unbeaten with 12 wins from as many games.
Champions of Nigeria Basketball League for the 6th time
2011
2012
2019
2021
2023
2024Who are we again? THE KINGSMEN!!!!#NPBLFinal8 #TheKingsMen pic.twitter.com/5IWync28DQ
— Rivers Hoopers (@RiversHoopers) November 18, 2024
Rivers Hoopers led 34-29 after halftime, and the Ogoh Odaudu-led side turned up the heat in the second half, scoring 37 more points while holding Hoops and Read to 25 points across two quarters.
Kelvin Amayo, who shone for the KingsMen at the last edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) earlier this year, led all scorers with 29 points, scoring 20 in the first half alone.
Amayo converted three 3-pointers and shot 11-of-23 from the floor to claim the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
The victory ensured Rivers Hoopers booked a spot in next year’s BAL as Nigeria’s representative, making it back-to-back appearances for the team at the continental showpiece.
Meanwhile, in the third-place game, the Gboko City Chiefs edged past Nile University 63-60 in a tightly contested affair.
