Pius Ayinor
The games of Friday, Day Five of the Nigeria Basketball Premier League Final-8 Playoffs turned out to be the best-matched day with the last game of the day as the tightest of them all. Lagos Legends defeated host club, Rivers United 80-79 end their unbeaten run in the Nigerian league that had spanned more than two seasons.
It was clearly marked out as the match of the day by the close followers of Nigeria Basketball and it lived up to the billing with every point well fought for. Both teams had stayed unbeaten in the current playoffs until Friday when the one-point win has changed the table to put the Legends top the table with 10 points. The Hoopers dropped to the second position with nine points.
The opening match in Port Harcourt on Friday was equally a clutch type but Kano Pillars dug deep into the ages with the like of Azuoma Dike to beat Hoops and Read 51-50. Pillars who by Day 3 were slipping at 0-3 have built up 2-0 with Thursday and Friday games to reignite hopes of getting a slot for the Final-4 playoff set for the last week of November.
Gboko City Chiefs beat the Nile University Spartans 77-55. The win solidifies the winners’ place for the Final-4 tournament while the youngsters of Nile need to fight harder to make the finals.
Nigeria Customs defeated Kwara Falcons 83-78 to keep the Falcons as the only team yet to win a game in the first stage of the 2025 playoffs.
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