With all to fight for on the final day of the Nigeria Premier Basketball League, Lagos Legends left it all on the floor and dethroned the Kingsmen on their home court.
Bronze Medal Clash
In the first game of the final day, Nigeria Customs faced off against Gboko City Chiefs in a match that would determine the bronze medallist.
The game began on a tightly contested note, with both sides going toe‑to‑toe in a first half littered with threes. At the end of the first quarter, the Border Boys were 4‑for‑6 from behind the arc, while the Chiefs went 3‑for‑5. In the second quarter, Gboko City Chiefs showcased a high level of persistence, grabbing and sinking second‑chance points. It ended 45-45 at the end of the second quarter.
For two minutes in the third quarter, no buckets were made, despite several attempts from both sides. Favour Aboje and Oghenetega David put in solid shifts, rallying Customs with 25 points and 22 points, respectively. Despite valiant efforts, Nigeria Customs lost 77‑80.
The Crowning: Rivers Hoopers vs. Lagos Legends
Having already defeated Rivers Hoopers in the final eight, ending their unbeaten run that dated back to November 2022, Lagos Legends were keen to do the same in Sunday’s decider.
The game was intense from the jump, with both teams battling for every point and possession. Legends drew first blood with a three‑pointer, but Rivers Hoopers rallied back to take the first quarter 20–19. The second quarter remained keenly contested, with nothing to separate them, as both teams went into halftime level at 32–32.
The KingsMen took a narrow three‑point lead at the end of the third quarter, 20–17. In the fourth quarter, Lagos Legends’ resilience and explosiveness shone through. They outscored the Hoopers 25–22 in the final period to seal a dramatic 74–72 win. The Legends trailed by two points with 28 seconds left but showed remarkable composure to score four unanswered points and snatch victory on the Hoopers’ home court.
The result means that Lagos Legends picked Nigeria’s sole ticket to the Basketball Africa League.
Patrick Abah was named the most valuable player. Tolani Buhari, Idoga John, Patrick Abah, Chingka Garba, and Peter Olisemeka were named as the top 5 players.
