NPBL: five players who lit up the Final Four

The Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL)Final Four in Port Harcourt provided a platform for some of Nigeria’s finest basketball talents to showcase their quality, with Rivers Hoopers eventually emerging as champions.

Beyond the team success, the tournament also produced several standout individual performances across the four competing teams.

Abel Offia, Omar Abada, Peter Olisemeka, Thomas Marcus Jr and Paul Dibal were among the players who caught the eye, contributing in different ways through scoring, rebounding, playmaking and defensive intensity.

Here are five players who made their mark at the NPBL Final Four.

 Abel Offia—The MVP

At the centre of the spotlight was Rivers Hoopers forward Abel Offia, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Offia averaged 18 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while posting an efficiency rating of 17.8.

He made an immediate impact in the tournament, scoring 28 points and grabbing seven rebounds as Rivers Hoopers defeated ASO Sky Hawks 74-60 in their opening game.

His biggest contribution, however, came when the pressure was highest.

In the championship game against Maktown Flyers, Offia scored 14 points, including seven in overtime, as Rivers Hoopers secured a dramatic 92-90 victory.

Reflecting on the final, Offia credited the home crowd for helping the team recover from a difficult spell.

“The fans actually helped us. Even when we were down by 12 points, they kept cheering for us,” Offia said.

Offia’s consistency throughout the tournament earned him the MVP award and underlined his importance to the champions.

Omar Abada—The creator

Omar Abada provided creativity, scoring and perimeter shooting from the Rivers Hoopers backcourt.

The Tunisian guard scored 18 points, added three assists and made four three-pointers against Gboko City Chiefs as the Hoopers recorded an 88-76 victory.

He was influential again in the championship game against Maktown Flyers, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists in the 92-90 overtime victory.

Abada’s ability to combine scoring with playmaking made him one of the tournament’s most productive guards.

His performances also earned him a place in the NPBL All-Star Five alongside Offia and Olisemeka.

Peter Olisemeka—The inside presence

While Abada made his impact from the perimeter, Peter Olisemeka established himself as a force in the paint.

The Rivers Hoopers big man recorded a double-double against Gboko City Chiefs, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

He produced another commanding performance in the championship game, grabbing 18 rebounds and scoring 16 points against Maktown Flyers.

His work on the boards proved particularly valuable in a contest that went into overtime, helping Rivers Hoopers maintain their presence around the basket.

Olisemeka’s performances also earned him a place in the NPBL All-Star Five.

 Thomas Marcus Jr—Gboko’s scoring threat

Thomas Marcus Jr was one of the standout performers for Gboko City Chiefs during the NPBL Final Four.

The guard produced a team-high 27 points and six assists against eventual champions Rivers Hoopers.

Although Gboko fell to a 12-point defeat, Marcus Jr’s performance demonstrated his ability to carry a significant portion of his team’s offensive responsibility.

His pace, ball-handling ability and attacking aggression made him a difficult matchup and ensured he remained one of the tournament’s notable individual performers.

 Paul Dibal—ASO’s standout performer

Paul Dibal completed the list after an impressive showing for ASO Sky Hawks.

The guard recorded 19 points, eight rebounds and four steals as ASO defeated defending champions Maktown Flyers 72-64.

He saved his biggest scoring performance for the final day, producing a game-high 32 points as ASO Sky Hawks defeated Gboko City Chiefs 80-75 to finish second in the Final Four.

For a team making its debut at this stage of the competition, Dibal’s production was one of the standout individual stories of the tournament.

 Five players to remember

The NPBL Final Four produced a memorable championship run for Rivers Hoopers, but the tournament also highlighted the depth of individual talent across the competition.

Offia claimed the MVP award, while Abada and Olisemeka provided key contributions for the champions. Marcus Jr carried a significant offensive burden for Gboko, while Dibal delivered a standout scoring display for ASO.

Five players, five different roles and a tournament that provided plenty of individual performances to remember.

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