Rivers Hoopers retain NPBL title after dominating Hoops & Read 71-54 to win their sixth Nigeria Premier Basketball League title and secure a spot in the 2025 Basketball Africa League, in the play-off final on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Hooper’s guard Kelvin Amayo starred in the comprehensive win with 29 points, two assists, and one rebound, scoring 20 of his points in the first half to help the Port Harcourt club win a sixth league title.
To get to the final, Rivers Hoopers edged Gboko City Chiefs 79-73 in a hard-fought semifinal showdown on Sunday.
Kelvin Amayo led the charge with 22 points, while Okiki Michael and Buchi Vincent Nwaiwu chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Nwaiwu made it a double-double with 12 rebounds while adding 2 assists and one three-pointer midway through the third quarter.
Rivers Hoopers continue to dominate the league, boasting the best offensive and defensive record.
The King’s Men also ended their 2024 NBPL run with an impeccable 12 wins in 12 games from the Conference finals to the playoffs.
Lagos club Hoops and Read which edged Nile University Spartans in the semis on Sunday tried to keep up with the pace of the champions in the first quarter which ended 24-18 in favour of Hoopers.
They managed to reduce the gap by just one point in Q2 which ended 34-29 but Hoopers extended their lead by 10 points 51-51 in Q3 before finishing the game off at 71-54.
As Rivers Hoopers retain NPBL title, they will return to the BAL where they made history earlier this year as the first Nigerian team to make the podium after beating Cape Town Tigers 80-57 in Kigali.
