Dramatic 74–72 victory gives Lagos Legends their first NBPL crown and BAL berth.
The Lagos Legends stunned defending champions Rivers Hoopers on Sunday night, edging them 74–72 in a tense finale to claim the Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) title and secure Nigeria’s automatic ticket to the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Playing in a charged Final Four atmosphere at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, the Legends showed composure, grit, and late-game steel to dethrone a Hoopers side that had been aiming for a third straight league crown.
The Hoopers drew first blood, taking the opening quarter 20–19, but the Legends refused to be rattled. The second quarter was a defensive chess match, with both sides locked 32–32 at halftime as neither team gave an inch in a battle of equals.
The third quarter swung slightly back in favour of the Hoopers, who stretched out a 52–49 lead heading into the final frame. At that point, the energy in the arena suggested a familiar script: Hoopers closing out tight games at home.
With just under a minute left, the challengers hit a crucial basket to tie the game at 70–70, silencing the home crowd and flipping momentum. From there, they delivered the decisive blow — scoring four unanswered points in the final seconds to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks of the NBPL season.
The victory not only ended Rivers Hoopers’ impressive unbeaten run in the league but also denied them the chance at a historic three-peat. It was a defining moment for a Legends side that had already beaten the Hoopers 80–79 earlier in the campaign, proving that their rise was no fluke.
With the win, Lagos Legends are officially the NBPL champions and will represent Nigeria in the 2026 BAL season, marking the club’s first-ever appearance on the continental stage.
While individual scoring details were still being compiled at press time, what stood out most was Lagos Legends’ teamwork, defensive discipline, and late-game execution — qualities that defined their championship run.
For Rivers Hoopers, the defeat will sting. The KingsMen had dominated Nigerian basketball over the past two seasons and entered the Final Four as heavy favourites. But in a high-pressure game decided by fine details, they fell just short.
The Path Now Shifts Dramatically For Both Teams:
Lagos Legends begin preparations for BAL competition, where they will face top continental clubs.
Rivers Hoopers must regroup and rebuild ahead of the next domestic cycle.
The Final Four showdown delivered everything Nigerian basketball fans hoped for – tension, skill, tactical battles, and a new champion emerging from the shadows. And on this night in Port Harcourt, it was the Lagos Legends who wrote their names in the history books.
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