As part of preparations for the playoff round of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL), Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club has emerged as champion of the Sauft Basketball Cup 2025.
The Sauft Basketball Cup is a yearly invitational tournament held in the city of Port Harcourt, which brings top basketball talents together to engage in a variety of activities.
This year, the tournament featured eight teams split into two groups of four teams each.
Participating teams included reigning NBPL champions Rivers Hoopers, Lagos Raptors, Rivers Pioneers, The Crusaders, Discover Spartans, Sauft Basketeers, High Flyers, and Alloy Hoops.
Just as in the 2025 NBPL season so far, the KingsMen proved to be unbeatable as they swept through the group stage unscathed, recording wins over High Flyers (76-60), Crusaders (78-66), and Spartans (97-84) to finish top of Group B.
In the semi-final, Rivers Hoopers, who paraded a much-changed lineup captained by Azubuike Ekuma throughout the tournament, cruised to a 75-60 victory over Sauft Basketeers before wrapping up the tournament in style by defeating Discover Spartans of Warri 72-60.
For their efforts, the KingsMen received a one-million-naira prize for emerging as champions and also had Victor Sunday as well as John Idoga feature in the tournament’s Best Five.
Sunday, who was also named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, was delighted with his and his team’s achievements despite being shorthanded.
He said, “Thanks to God for being the MVP and being part of the Best Five. I am deeply grateful to my teammates, coaches, and all those who came out to support us. I think the other guys underrated us because we were short of numbers; [they thought] that we wouldn’t win.”
The tournament MVP also revealed that the KingsMen have been locked in preparations for the next phase of league basketball and will be ready when it tips off.
“We’re preparing for the next phase [of the league], trying to get better and better. Hopefully, we’re ready to go. I think the next phase is not going to be easy, but trust me, we’re ready.”
Rivers Hoopers remain in the hunt for a third straight Nigerian League title, and after finishing both the Group and Inter-Group Phases of the 2025 season unbeaten, they will look to carry the same momentum into the playoffs round.
The Final Eight will tip off from Friday, 24 October, to Friday, 31 October. The top four teams will head to the Final Four to determine the champions of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League.
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