Benin-based basketball team Aspac emerged victorious in the Louis Edem Championship, defeating Rivers Hoopers 80-77 in the final showdown held at the National Stadium in Lagos on Saturday.
Rivers Hoopers came into the tournament as one of the favorites, having dominated the league season to become Nigerian champions. They continued their dominance in the Louis Edem Championship, securing victories against Hoops and Read, Comets, Police Batons, Energie, and Spintex Knights to reach the final.
However, Aspac proved to be a force to be reckoned with, determined to claim the title. They maintained a perfect record leading up to the final, defeating Spintex Knights, Raptors, Elan Coton, and Lagos Legends before convincingly beating Police Batons in the semifinals.
Rivers Hoopers began the game with a strong intention to win, quickly taking a commanding 13-point lead by halftime, with a score of 43-30, making another victory seem all but certain.
However, Aspac made a determined comeback after the break, erasing the deficit and eventually leveling the score. In a thrilling conclusion, Aspac emerged victorious, defeating Rivers Hoopers 80-77 in overtime to claim the title in remarkable fashion.
In addition to the thrilling final, fans also enjoyed the third-place matches, where Energie Cotonou defeated Elan Coton in the women’s category, and Spintex Knights edged out Police Baton in the men’s category.
In an exciting precursor to the men’s final, the women’s final took center stage, with Calabar Angels ultimately claiming the top honors by defeating Dolphin Angels 56-46, showcasing their skills and determination to secure the coveted trophy.

Following their Louis Edem Championship campaign, Rivers Hoopers will shift their focus to the upcoming Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 5, set to tip off in April. As Nigeria’s representatives, they will compete in the prestigious tournament, which will be held across four cities: Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda; and Pretoria, South Africa.
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