Battle for BAL Ticket Heats Up As NPBL Final Four Emerges

Battle for BAL Ticket Heats Up As NPBL Final Four Emerges

By Admin 

The race for the 2025 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) title has been narrowed to four as Rivers Hoopers, Lagos Legends, Gboko City Chiefs, and Nigeria Customs secured their places in the season’s Final Four following the conclusion of the Final Eight round on Sunday, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Defending champions Rivers Hoopers and Lagos Legends finished joint top of the standings with identical records of six wins and one loss, underlining their dominance throughout the round. Gboko City Chiefs followed in third place with five wins and two losses, while Nigeria Customs clinched the final qualification spot in dramatic fashion, edging out Kano Pillars and Nile University Spartans.

The 2025 NPBL Final Four is scheduled to hold from November 20–24, 2025, and will determine not only the national champion but also Nigeria’s representative at the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The four teams will play in a round-robin format, with each side facing the other three once.

Final Day Highlights

The final day of the group stage delivered high drama and thrilling performances across the board.

In the day’s opener, Gboko City Chiefs survived a tense finish to defeat Hoops & Read 63–62. The Chiefs led by as many as 20 points before Hoops & Read rallied late, but Gboko held their nerve to secure the win. Michael Oriahki led the scoring with 16 points, helping his team clinch a vital Final Four berth.

Next up, Nigeria Customs sealed their semifinal qualification with a gritty 70–64 victory over Kano Pillars. Customs captain David Godwin delivered a captain’s performance, scoring 22 points to guide his side past the experienced Pillars lineup.

The third game saw Lagos Legends overpower Nile University Spartans in a commanding 93–63 win. Although Nile impressed defensively in the second quarter, they struggled to convert opportunities. The Legends capitalized in the third quarter, pulling away behind a spectacular showing from Patrick Abah, who posted a game-high 20 points with athletic drives and relentless pressure in the paint.

In the final match of the round, the Rivers Hoopers comfortably dispatched Kwara Falcons 83–69. Despite a spirited start from the Falcons, the reigning champions’ depth and experience proved decisive as they maintained their quest to defend the NPBL title.

With the Final Four now set, attention turns to the upcoming showdowns in November as the country’s top teams battle for national glory and the chance to fly Nigeria’s flag on the continental stage at the Basketball Africa League.