Rivers Hoopers brace for NPBL title defence News

Navigation: Home / News / Basketball / Rivers Hoopers brace for NPBL title defence

Rivers Hoopers brace for NPBL title defence

By Daily Sports Nigeria on August 11, 2025

Reigning Nigeria Premier Basketball League champions Rivers Hoopers are looking to defend their title ahead of the new season, which will tip off on August 28.

Rivers Hoopers won their sixth league title last year by defeating Hoops & Read 71-54 in the playoff final, and will look to retain their crown for the third straight year.

According to the organisers, the league will run from August 28 to November 16 and will be preceded by a registration period from August 11 to 28.

The 2025 NBPL is structured to run in four phases (group, inter-group, playoff, and final four), as the 16 participating teams have been divided into four groups of four teams each across the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences.

Rivers Hoopers have been paired alongside Delta Force, Oluyole Warriors, and Kwara Falcons in Group B of the Atlantic Conference.

Group A consists Comets, Police Batons, Lagos Legends, as well as Hoops & Read.

In the Savannah Conference, Nile University, Nigeria Customs, Gboko City Chiefs, and Correctional Service make up Group A, while Group B houses Kano Pillars, Plateau Peaks, Gombe Bulls, and Bauchi Nets.

Each team is expected to play six games against the other three teams during the group stage, after which all eight teams in both groups from each conference will meet at a central venue for the inter-group stage.

During the inter-group stage, each team will play seven games (one against each of the other teams).

The top four teams from each conference (making a total of eight teams) will then converge for the playoffs round, which will be played in a knockout format.

The final four teams will play each other once in a round robin format, with the team accruing the highest points tally after that crowned the 2025 NBPL champions.

Source Punch Ng

Posted August 11, 2025