2023 NBBF Premier League

Last updated

2023 NBBF Premier League
League Nigerian Premier League
Sport Basketball
Duration22 October 2023 - 25 November 2023
Number of teams24
Conference Eight
Final Four
Champions Rivers Hoopers (5th title)
  Runners-upGboko City Chiefs
Seasons
2024 

The 2023 NBBF Premier League was the 22nd season of the NBBF Premier League, the top-flight basketball league in Nigeria organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). The season began on 22 October 2023 and ended on 25 November 2023 The champions qualified directly for the 2024 BAL season. [1] The Final Four was staged in Port Harcourt.

Contents

The Kwara Falcons were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the conference stage. The Rivers Hoopers won their 5th national title with a undefeated 13-0 record. [2] The Hoopers clinched their title on 25 November, after winning the final game of the Final Four. [2]

First phase

The first phase ran from 22 to 29 October 2023 and was held in four groups of six or seven teams, divided in two conferences. The four host cities were Abuja, Lafia, Asaba and Ibadan. The top two teams from each group advance to the Conference Eight, the remaining teams were relegated to the Division One for the 2024 season.

Initially, 31 teams were announced for the first phase. [3] After withdrawals, the league began with 24 teams. [4]

Savannah Conference

Abuja

PosTeamPldWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Nigeria Customs550413325+8810Advance to Conference Eight
2Nile University541342335+79
3 Kano Pillars 532382325+578
4Bauchi Nets523332364327
5 Niger Potters 514294345516Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6Kada Stars505337406695
Source: NBBF

Lafia

PosTeamPldWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Plateau Peaks 541318285+339Advance to Conference Eight
2Gboko City Chiefs541311231+809
3 Gombe Bulls 53232833248
4Correctional53230530508
5 Defenders 514298347496Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6Benue Braves505240300605
Source: NBBF

Atlantic Conference

Asaba

Oriental Giants, Camac and Lagos Warriors were also announced to be in this group but did not play.

PosTeamPldWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Rivers Hoopers 440334246+888Advance to Conference Eight
2Lagos Legends431299253+467
3Police Baton42226927786
4Delta Force413270326565
5 Raptors 404240310704Relegated to NBBF National Division One
Source: NBBF

Ibadan

Lagos Islanders was also announced to be in this group, but did not play.

PosTeamPldWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Kwara Falcons 651423392+3111Advance to Conference Eight
2 Ebun Comets 651371279+9211
3Hoops & Read642434353+8110
4Oluyole Warriors642366327+3910
5Impressions624288355678Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6Ondo Raiders615316379637
7Invaders6063094351266
Source: NBBF

Conference Eight

The Conference Eight phase was played by the eight highest placed teams from each conference. It was initially scheduled to only feature eight teams, and was to be held from 4 to 14 November 2023 in Lagos. Later, ihe NBBF announced that the Savannah Conference was hosted in Abuja, and the Atlantic Conference was hosted in Akure.

Atlantic Conference

Delta Force withdrew ahead of the Conference Eight. [5] The Rivers Hoopers won the Atlantic Conference after going undefeated in their six games; Hoops & Read finished in second place.

Home \ Away COM HOR KWA LLGOLUPOL RIV
Ebun Comets 51–47
Hoops & Read82–71
Kwara Falcons 80–44
Lagos Legends62–50
Oluyole Warriors61–80
Police Baton55–7863–49
Rivers Hoopers 82–5483–56
Updated to match(es) played on 9 November 2023. Source: NBBF on X
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Savannah Conference

Bauchi Nets withdrew ahead of the Conference Eight. Nigeria Customs emerged champions of the Savannah Conference, after winning all their six games. [6] The Gboko City Chiefs finished in second place. [6]

Home \ AwayBAUCORCUSGBO GOM KAN NIL PLA
Bauchi Nets0–20
Correctionals67–7090–92
Nigeria Customs91–6273–6488–67
Gboko City Chiefs20–091–7875–8376–62
Gombe Bulls 72–69
Kano Pillars 85–8263–6559–55
Nile Spartans 78–7978–74
Plateau Peaks 20–056–9748–8970–7350–68
Updated to match(es) played on 13 November 2023. Source: NBBF on X
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final Four

The Final Four will be held from 22 to 25 November. Rivers Hoopers, Hoops & Read, Nigeria Customs and Gboko City Chiefs are the four qualified teams. On 16 November, Port Harcourt was announced as the host city. The last time Port Harcourt hosted the Final Eight of the Premier League was in 2010. [7]

PosTeamPldWLGFGAGDPtsQualification RIV GBC NIG H&R
1 Rivers Hoopers (C)330218187+316Qualification to the 2024 BAL season 77–5774–68
2Gboko City Chiefs321213198+15562–67
3 Nigeria Customs 31218820517466–71
4Hoops & Read30319521924370–8057–65
Source: NBBF on X
(C) Champions

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References

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  3. "Hoopers, 30 other teams to contest NBBF's 2023 Premier League". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  4. Nigeria, Guardian (24 October 2023). "26 clubs chase laurels as NBBF Men's Premier League". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  5. "Delta Force withdraws as NBBF Atlantic Conference's Final Eight begins". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  6. 1 2 "NBBF Premier League: Nigeria Customs emerge Savannah Conference kings". Premium Times Nigeria. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  7. Amosu, Adeboye (16 November 2023). "Port Harcourt To Host 2023 Nigeria Premier Basketball League Final Four". Complete Sports. Retrieved 16 November 2023.