2025 NPBL Playoffs: Rivers Hoopers keep Customs in check for third straight win
Rivers Hoopers made it three wins from three games at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Eight Playoffs when they turned what started off as a close contest into a 20-point rout, by defeating Nigeria Customs 94-74 yesterday night.
Both teams entered the game with clear intentions of winning, which was evident during the first few minutes, as momentum swung back and forth with the lead exchanging hands multiple times in a first quarter which eventually ended 20-22 in favour of Customs.
Just as in the previous game (against Kano Pillars), once again Hoopers Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu called upon his bench, and they delivered a stronger showing in the second quarter, quickly tying the game before racing to a ten-point lead heading into the break at 45-35.
Isaiah Williams scored 11 of his team-leading 20 points in the first half of the game, on a day when it was difficult for him to miss. He knocked down 6/7 threes, with an 85.7 per cent accuracy from deep.
By the time the second half came along, the KingsMen were in full flow and stretched their lead to 14 points at the end of the third quarter before eventually sealing a comfortable 94-74 victory over Nigeria Customs.
When asked about his team’s secret to maintaining such a high level of performance for each game, Odaudu praised the quality of his bench.
“I think it’s because of one single fact: that we have a very deep bench. If you go back and check, in all the games we’ve played so far we’ve had massive production from the bench. The bench points have been really good, and that tells of the depth that we have,” he revealed.
Rivers Hoopers scored a massive 53 points from the bench against Customs, surpassing the 45 they recorded against Kano Pillars the previous day, as eleven out of 12 players who made the matchday roster registered points on the board.
Buchi Vincent scored 14 points, while Victor Koko and Malik Miller had 9 points apiece, with Favour Komene and Kelvin Amayo registering 8 points each. Victor Sunday provided a game-high 8 assists.
However, the game was quite a spectacle for the cheering crowd, but it wasn’t coach Odaudu’s personal favourite.
“I think yesterday’s game [vs Kano Pillars] was a lot better than today’s game. Yes, it was quite interesting from the start, but we didn’t have any doubt that the outcome was going to be like this. We expected that it was going to be better than this. But we’re taking each game as it comes. Each day is a different one, [with a] different game. We’re gradually heading towards the target that we set for ourselves. First of all, to qualify for the Final Four, and then see if we can go unbeaten,” he stated.
Up next for the KingsMen is a much-anticipated battle against Gboko City Chiefs today, 30th October, 2025.
The KingsMen scraped past the Chiefs in a nervy 67-62 during the Final Four en route to winning the 2023 NPBL title, and Odaudu expects their meeting on matchday four to be his side’s biggest test yet at the Final Eight.
“Gboko City Chiefs have actually recruited very well; they have a very solid team this time around. It’s not going to be any different. The Final Eight was brought here for a reason: for us to give our fans and the home crowd a good show. So far we’ve done that in three games, and tomorrow is not going to be any different. We’re going to come out aggressive; we’re going to come out hard. Tomorrow is going to be our first real test of the tournament, and I’m really excited about what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
