Rivers Hoopers’ quest was halted by Lagos Legends Basketball Club for a third consecutive Nigeria Basketball Premier League title, defeating them on a 74-72 count in a nail-biting 2025 Final 4 decider in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Lagos Legends and Rivers Hoopers came into the final game of the season, chasing next year’s Basketball Africa League ticket after two wins in their opening two matches.
Fortunately for the Lagos Legends, who’s impact was evident as they defeated Rivers Hoopers 80-79 during the final eight last month to end their three-year unbeaten run, started the game like a house on fire, racing to an early lead as Hoopers trailed for most of the first quarter.
Though the ‘kingsmen’, got the leading in the first quarter with 20-19, but they were given a hot chase in the second quarter by Lagos Legends, who ensured they went into the break 32-32.
The Port Harcourt basketball team maintained a tiny lead in the third quarter, keeping the score 52-49, but the Lagos Legends were saving their best for the last.
But Lagos Legends, however, rallied late and tied the game 61-61 at some point. They took a one-point lead in another moment before Hoopers pegged them to 70-70 equalizers with 39 seconds to the buzzer.
Ogoh Odaudu’s men on one hand got two additional points and gained the lead but slacked on performance, giving the Lagos Legends a chance that came from behind to score four more points at the death to win the game and prevent the 2024 BAL bronze medallists from winning a third title.
The Lagos Legends recent victory against Rivers Hoopers is just marking the fact that they beat the kingsmen twice in three of their meetings this season. And the Hoopers’ only win over them was 89-70 during the Inter-Group Phase.
This also means that the Lagos Legends Basketball Club have also picked the ticket to next year’s BAL, taking over from Rivers Hoopers who have attended the last two editions.
