PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Rivers Hoopers unleashed a blistering extra-period barrage from beyond the arc to overpower Gboko City Chiefs 83-65 on Wednesday, preserving their perfect record on Day Four of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Playoffs.
The Chiefs came out firing early with a 9-2 run, but the Hoopers quickly steadied themselves to lock the first quarter at 17-17. In a grueling, physical encounter, Port Harcourt nudged ahead 29-23 at the main break before Gboko steadily chipped away in the second half to trigger the late-game heroics.
What seemed like a routine closing stretch turned into an absolute thriller when Gboko’s Marcus Thomas Jr. buried a dramatic corner three-pointer with just 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the score at 59-59 to force overtime.
Undeterred by the late heartbreak, the KingsMen completely took over in overtime, outscoring the Chiefs 24-6.
With the score at 69-61, Rivers Hoopers put on a perimeter masterclass, knocking down four consecutive three-pointers as part of a game-busting 12-0 run. Tunisian playmaker Omar Abada provided the magic, sinking three straight long-range daggers to send the raucous home crowd into a frenzy.
The victory extends Rivers Hoopers’ hold on what has so turned out to be a one-sided modern rivalry, marking their sixth consecutive win over the Chiefs.
“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.”
Abel Offia and Omar Abada spearheaded the Hoopers’ offense with a game-leading 18 points apiece. Offia was clinical from deep, draining five triples while tallying 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Abada orchestrated the floor masterfully, pairing his overtime shooting exhibition with a game-high 7 assists.
Meanwhile, Peter Olisemeka produced a monster double-double with 12 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 steals, while John Idoga added 13 points and Samuel Sani posted 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Odaudu was particularly thrilled with Abada’s game-winning impact while hinting that the star point guard is still warming up. “Very, very, very pleased. And his best is yet to come,” Odaudu remarked. “The heat is bothering him a little… So watch out for Omar in the coming games.”
Odaudu acknowledged the team’s late-regulation stumbles but kept his sight fixed on the primary target. “It’s something that has been a problem for us… But this is just a qualification tournament. We just need to qualify for the Final Four, and we’ll have time to work in between.
With the demanding tournament schedule pressing on, Odaudu confirmed squad rotation will be vital for Day Five. “We would rather not wear them down because playing back-to-back for seven games is a long stretch,” he said. “Tomorrow we’re going to use the other players who did not play as many minutes and see how we can balance it.”
Day Five will see Rivers Hoopers take on 313 Warriors for the first time ever.
Other fixtures include;
Lagos Raptors vs Kano Pillars (12pm)
Gboko City Chiefs vs Hoops & Read (2pm)
Maktown Flyers vs Aso Sky Hawks (4pm)
All games will be played at the Basketball Stadium, 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers State.
