Maktown Survive Overtime Scare as Aso, 313 Warriors and Rivers Hoopers Win NPBL Final 8 Openers

Defending champions Maktown Flyers needed overtime to begin their title defence with victory as Aso Sky Hawks, 313 Warriors and Rivers Hoopers also won on the opening day of the 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final 8 on Sunday.

Aso Sky Hawks marked their first appearance in the Final 8 with a 63-57 victory over Hoops & Read.

The newcomers built a 14-point advantage after three quarters before Hoops & Read reduced the deficit with a late fourth-quarter rally. Micheal Okiki led Aso with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, while A.K. Coulibaly grabbed 12 rebounds. Francis Anekwe scored 11 points for Hoops & Read.

Maktown overcame Gboko City Chiefs 90-84 after overtime in the day’s closest game. The defending champions surrendered a late 10-point lead before the teams finished regulation level at 76-76, but captain Thomas Agbo led Maktown’s response in overtime with 26 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.

Keita Mohammed added 20 points and six rebounds as Maktown scored 41 points off turnovers. Marcus Thomas Jr. led Gboko with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while the Chiefs’ bench outscored Maktown’s reserves 49-15.

313 Warriors recorded the biggest victory of the opening round, beating Lagos Raptors 79-57 after taking control with a 26-18 first quarter.

John Matthias finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four blocks, shooting 3-for-3 from the field, while Arrayyan Salis scored 14 points and made four steals.

Rivers Hoopers completed the opening day’s fixtures with an 84-71 victory over Kano Pillars. The hosts opened the game with a 10-0 run and led by as many as 14 points before Kano reduced the gap to one point early in the fourth quarter.

Pillars were within two points at 69-67 with just over three minutes remaining, but Rivers Hoopers closed the game on a 15-4 run. John Idoga scored 15 points and Abel Offia added 12, while Peter Olisemeka recorded a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Onyebuchi Nwaiwu contributed seven points and eight rebounds, with the Hoopers’ bench scoring 49 points.

The round-robin tournament continues on Monday with Kano Pillars facing 313 Warriors at noon, followed by Hoops & Read against Maktown Flyers at 2 p.m., Gboko City Chiefs against Aso Sky Hawks at 4 p.m. and hosts Rivers Hoopers taking on Lagos Raptors at 6 p.m.