Gonzalo
All roads lead to Port Harcourt as the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) season reaches its climax with four teams set to battle for the coveted league title from September 20 to 22.
The much-anticipated Final Four was rescheduled following a clash with an official Rivers State Government event at the Basketball Stadium on Niger Street, Old Port Harcourt Township. However, the venue remains unchanged as the country's top basketball teams prepare for three days of intense competition.
The final phase will feature RIVERS HOOPERS, MAKTOWN FLYERS, GBOKO CITY CHIEFS, and ASO SKY HAWKS all of whom booked their places after an exciting Final Eight campaign.
RIVERS HOOPERS emerged as the top-ranked side after posting an impressive 6-1 record. They finished ahead of MAKTOWN FLYERS on points difference, with both teams recording identical records.
GBOKO CITY CHIEFS and ASO SKY HAWKS also secured their spots after finishing the Final Eight with five wins and two defeats each.
Unlike a knockout competition, the Final Four will adopt a round-robin format, giving each team three opportunities to prove its strength. At the end of the three-day battle, the team with the best overall record will be crowned the 2026 NPBL champion.
For the teams, however, the stakes go beyond domestic glory. The eventual champions will also secure Nigeria's ticket to the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season, adding another layer of importance to an already highly anticipated contest.
Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Sports, Comrade EMMA NDAH, says the state government is determined to give the participating teams and basketball fans a memorable experience, assuring that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the competition.
Technical meetings for the Final Four are scheduled for September 19, with the games tipping off the following day. The participating teams are expected to depart Port Harcourt on September 23.
With the league title and a place in Africa's premier club basketball competition at stake, Port Harcourt is set for a thrilling three-day basketball spectacle as RIVERS HOOPERS, MAKTOWN FLYERS, GBOKO CITY CHIEFS and ASO SKY HAWKS fight for domestic supremacy. You can watch these games live on http://youtube.com/@afiemoonthespot