Rivers Hoopers to Face Hoops & Read in NBPL Playoffs Opener
Reigning champions Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club are set to begin their 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) Playoffs campaign with a highly anticipated clash against Hoops & Read.
The matchup, scheduled for 4:00pm on Monday, October 27th, marks the opening day of the Final Eight and reignites a growing rivalry between two of the league’s most competitive sides.
The announcement came following a technical meeting held on Sunday, October 26th, between league organizers and participating teams.
Rivers Hoopers, also known as the KingsMen, enter the playoffs unbeaten through the 2025 NBPL season and are chasing a third consecutive league title.
Their first hurdle is a familiar one, Hoops & Read, last year’s beaten finalists, who have struggled to overcome the Hoopers in recent encounters. The KingsMen have won their last three meetings against Hoops & Read, including a 67-58 victory earlier this season during the Inter-Group Phase.
The playoff schedule, which spans seven days, will see Rivers Hoopers face off against a series of formidable opponents including Kano Pillars, Nigeria Customs, Gboko City Chiefs, Lagos Legends, Nile University Spartans, and Kwara Falcons.
All games are set to take place at the Basketball Stadium located at #59 Niger Street, Port Harcourt Township.
The opening day of the playoffs will feature four games, beginning with Lagos Legends versus Nigeria Customs at 10:00am, followed by Nile University against Kwara Falcons at noon, Kano Pillars versus Gboko City Chiefs at 2:00pm, and culminating in the headline fixture between Rivers Hoopers and Hoops & Read.
