Rivers Hoopers Eye Historic Third Straight NBPL Title as Final Four Kicks Off

Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu is eagerly anticipating the challenge of securing a third consecutive Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) title as the 2025 season Final Four takes place from November 21 to 23 in Port Harcourt.

The club, which claimed back-to-back unbeaten league titles in 2023 and 2024, aims to become only the third Nigerian team in history to win three straight championships, joining Lagos Islanders (1997–2001) and Kano Pillars (2008–2010).

Odaudu, focused on guiding his team through the Final Four, will face Lagos Legends, Gboko City Chiefs, and Nigeria Customs in pursuit of the club’s seventh league crown and qualification for next season’s Basketball Africa League.

“We’ve been given stern orders to win this [Final Four], so there’s a lot of pressure. But I love the pressure, and I hope we play the way we’ve been practising,” Odaudu told the club’s media team.

“The Final Four has been on my mind constantly. I eat, sleep, and dream about it. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since the end of the Final Eight, but I’m a bit more relaxed as we approach the tournament.”

The veteran coach has overseen one of Nigerian basketball’s most dominant eras, with Rivers Hoopers losing only two games across six domestic seasons from 2019 to 2025. Their most recent defeat was a one-point (79–80) overtime loss to Lagos Legends during day four of the Final Eight.

As the Final Four draws near, Odaudu emphasized that he feels more optimistic than confident about his team’s chances of retaining the title. “I never feel fully confident. Even against teams I expect to beat by 20 points, I still get butterflies. I calm down as the game progresses. So, I’d say we’re ready and optimistic,” he explained.

Rivers Hoopers will open their Final Four campaign against Gboko City Chiefs on Friday, November 21, face Nigeria Customs on Saturday, November 22, and conclude against Lagos Legends on Sunday, November 23.