Rivers Hoopers have landed in Pretoria, South Africa, ahead of the BAL Season 5 finals, set to tip off on Friday, June 6, at the SunBet Arena.
Nicknamed the KingsMen, the Port Harcourt-based club is one of eight elite franchises vying for continental supremacy and the prestigious title of African champions.
Eight Teams, One Crown
Led by head coach Ogoh Odaudu, the Hoopers will compete alongside some of Africa’s top teams:
Al Ahli (Libya) – Ranked No. 1
Al Ittihad (Egypt) – Ranked No. 2
US Monastir (Tunisia) – Ranked No. 3
Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) – Ranked No. 4
Petro de Luanda (Angola)
APR (Rwanda)
FUS Rabat (Morocco)
Kriol Star (Cape Verde)
The Hoopers qualified for the finals after finishing second in the Kalahari Conference qualifiers earlier in the year.
Building on Bronze Success
Rivers Hoopers are entering the finals in strong form, hoping to improve on their third-place finish in the 2024 edition held in Kigali, Rwanda.
A win in South Africa would be the team’s best-ever finish since the inception of the BAL in 2021.
Key Players to Watch
The team’s core includes several standout performers from the Kalahari Conference:
Madut Akec – Scoring leader, 17.8 PPG
Peter Olisemeka – Rebounds leader, 11.0 RPG
Kelvin Amayo – Assists leader, 6.6 APG and Steals leader, 2.0 SPG
Raphael Putney – Blocks leader, 1.7 BPG
Their roster was further strengthened last month with the signing of Chingka Garba, a dominant forward from Rwanda’s Orion Basketball Club.
BAL 2025 Finals Schedule
Dates: June 6–14, 2025
Venue: SunBet Arena, Pretoria, South Africa
Format: Eight teams battle through knockout rounds to determine the BAL champion
Regional Representation
Rivers Hoopers remain West Africa’s sole representatives in the BAL Finals and are flying Nigeria’s flag with pride.
The team is targeting a maiden appearance in the final game, a major milestone in Nigerian basketball.
