Rivers Hoopers Eye Third Straight NBPL Title, Coach Odaudu Warns Against Complacency

Rivers Hoopers Eye Third Straight NBPL Title, Coach Odaudu Warns Against Complacency

By Niyi Busari 

 Head coach of Rivers Hoopers, Ogoh Odaudu, says his team must stay focused and work harder than ever to retain their Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) title, even with the advantage of playing on home soil.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on Monday confirmed Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as host city for both the playoffs (Final Eight) and Final Four phases of the 2025 NBPL season.

The decision means the Garden City will stage the league’s final rounds for the third consecutive year, after successfully hosting the 2023 and 2024 editions both of which saw the Hoopers crowned champions before their home fans.

Odaudu welcomed the decision, noting that the home crowd has always provided an electric atmosphere for the team. “Everybody wants to play in front of their home crowd,” Odaudu said. “You can feel the energy in the gym anytime we play here — it’s electric. Even though we were open to seeing what it’s like to play elsewhere, no other bids came in. So we’re happy to have the opportunity to host again and bring basketball closer to our fans.”

Despite the familiarity and fan support, the two-time defending champions’ coach warned that the path to another title will not be easy.

 “Teams are recruiting heavily this season. Nobody’s smiling,” he cautioned. “Playing at home doesn’t guarantee victory. We have to work for it, and that’s exactly what we’re preparing to do.”

The NBPL Playoffs (Final Eight) will run from October 26 to November 3, featuring all eight qualified teams in a round-robin format, with each side playing seven games. The top four teams will then advance to the Final Four, scheduled for November 20–24.

All matches are set to take place at the Indoor Basketball Stadium, 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, where fans are expected to turn out in large numbers to support the reigning champions as they chase a historic third consecutive NBPL title.