Defending champions Rivers Hoopers experienced a close 79-80 defeat in overtime against Lagos Legends during a Day Five match at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Eight Playoffs on Friday night.
As the teams entered the match, held at the Basketball Stadium on 59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township, Rivers State, both were on a high, having achieved four consecutive victories in the Playoffs and were keen to maintain their unbeaten streak.
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Lagos Legends began the game strongly, establishing a 9-4 advantage (their largest lead of the match) within the first four minutes of a first quarter that saw the score tied multiple times, with both teams scoring twenty-two points each (22-22).
The intensity carried over into the second quarter, with neither team willing to concede any ground in a contest that was justifiably labeled as the highlight of Day Five. Nevertheless, Legends managed to edge ahead at 41-40 as they headed into halftime.
The physical and strategic contest persisted into the second half, and once again, neither team could gain the upper hand as the game progressed into overtime with the score tied at 71-71.
After suffering an 89-70 defeat to Rivers Hoopers during the Inter-Group Phase, Lagos Legends were determined to avenge that loss and had to exert considerable effort to achieve this, as the hosts faced their first league defeat since November 2022.
Despite the loss, Hoopers Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu commended his team’s performance during the match.
”Today’s game was extremely intense. I believe they [the players] performed admirably, [but] fatigue is indeed becoming a factor. When you are that fatigued, mental lapses can occur, and that was evident today. However, we have been improving with each passing day. With every game we play, we are getting better, and we are a work in progress. We will take a well-deserved break, then return to prepare for the final four. It’s not an issue at all.
