Nigeria Customs Basketball Club sealed the last qualification berth for the Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) Final Four on a dramatic final day of the Final Eight Tournament in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The curtain fell on the NPBL Final Eight with Nigeria Customs joining Lagos Legends, Rivers Hoopers, and Gboko City Chiefs as the four teams advancing to the Final Four.

Customs needed both a win and favourable results from other fixtures, and they got exactly that, pulling off a hard-fought 70–64 victory over Kano Pillars. The victory, combined with earlier wins over Kwara Falcons and Nile University, proved just enough to edge them into the final qualification spot.

The day began with a thriller as Gboko City Chiefs narrowly defeated Hoops & Read 63–62, in a game that went down to the wire. Gboko, who led by as much as 20 points at one stage, held off a late surge to clinch the win, powered by Michael Oriahki’s game-high 16 points.

In the second encounter, Nigeria Customs took centre stage against Kano Pillars. Led by their captain David Godwin, who posted 22 points, Customs delivered a composed performance to grab the crucial win that sealed their Final Four ticket.

The third matchup saw Lagos Legends overpower Nile University 93–63 in a one-sided affair. Despite Nile’s impressive defensive moments in the second quarter, they couldn’t capitalize on turnovers. Patrick Abah stole the show for the Legends with 20 points, showcasing explosive athleticism and dominant drives to the paint.

The final game of the tournament featured the winless Kwara Falcons facing Rivers Hoopers in what was largely a pride battle. The Falcons started brightly but faded as the Hoopers secured an 83–69 win, maintaining their momentum heading into the Final Four.

At the end of the NPBL Final Eight, Lagos Legends and Rivers Hoopers finished top of the standings with identical 6–1 records. Gboko City Chiefs followed with five wins, while Nigeria Customs grabbed the final slot, edging Kano Pillars and Nile University Spartans.

The NPBL Final Four, which will determine the 2025 league champion and Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL), is set to take place in Port Harcourt from November 20 to 24, 2025.