2023 NBBF Premier League

2023 NBBF Premier League
LeagueNigerian Premier League
SportBasketball
Duration22 October 2023 - 25 November 2023
Number of teams24
Conference Eight
Final Four
ChampionsRivers Hoopers (5th title)
  Runners-upGboko City Chiefs
Seasons

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.

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

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Nigeria Customs 5 5 0 413 325 +88 10 Advance to Conference Eight
2 Nile University 5 4 1 342 335 +7 9
3 Kano Pillars 5 3 2 382 325 +57 8
4 Bauchi Nets 5 2 3 332 364 −32 7
5 Niger Potters 5 1 4 294 345 −51 6 Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6 Kada Stars 5 0 5 337 406 −69 5
Source: NBBF

Lafia

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Plateau Peaks 5 4 1 318 285 +33 9 Advance to Conference Eight
2 Gboko City Chiefs 5 4 1 311 231 +80 9
3 Gombe Bulls 5 3 2 328 332 −4 8
4 Correctional 5 3 2 305 305 0 8
5 Defenders 5 1 4 298 347 −49 6 Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6 Benue Braves 5 0 5 240 300 −60 5
Source: NBBF

Atlantic Conference

Asaba

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

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Rivers Hoopers 4 4 0 334 246 +88 8 Advance to Conference Eight
2 Lagos Legends 4 3 1 299 253 +46 7
3 Police Baton 4 2 2 269 277 −8 6
4 Delta Force 4 1 3 270 326 −56 5
5 Raptors 4 0 4 240 310 −70 4 Relegated to NBBF National Division One
Source: NBBF

Ibadan

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

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Kwara Falcons 6 5 1 423 392 +31 11 Advance to Conference Eight
2 Ebun Comets 6 5 1 371 279 +92 11
3 Hoops & Read 6 4 2 434 353 +81 10
4 Oluyole Warriors 6 4 2 366 327 +39 10
5 Impressions 6 2 4 288 355 −67 8 Relegated to NBBF National Division One
6 Ondo Raiders 6 1 5 316 379 −63 7
7 Invaders 6 0 6 309 435 −126 6
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 LLG OLU POL RIV
Ebun Comets — 51–47
Hoops & Read — 82–71
Kwara Falcons — 80–44
Lagos Legends 62–50 —
Oluyole Warriors — 61–80
Police Baton 55–78 63–49 —
Rivers Hoopers 82–54 83–56 —
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 \ Away BAU COR CUS GBO GOM KAN NIL PLA
Bauchi Nets — 0–20
Correctionals — 67–70 90–92
Nigeria Customs 91–62 — 73–64 88–67
Gboko City Chiefs 20–0 91–78 75–83 — 76–62
Gombe Bulls 72–69 —
Kano Pillars 85–82 — 63–65 59–55
Nile Spartans 78–79 78–74 —
Plateau Peaks 20–0 56–97 48–89 70–73 50–68 —
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]

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RIV GBC NIG H&R
1 Rivers Hoopers (C) 3 3 0 218 187 +31 6 Qualification to the 2024 BAL season — — 77–57 74–68
2 Gboko City Chiefs 3 2 1 213 198 +15 5 62–67 — — —
3 Nigeria Customs 3 1 2 188 205 −17 4 — 66–71 — —
4 Hoops & Read 3 0 3 195 219 −24 3 — 70–80 57–65 —
Source: NBBF on X
(C) Champions

References

  1. ^ Kolawole, Hashim (24 October 2023). "2023 NBBF Premier Basketball League Tips Off with Host Cities Revealed | Sports247 Nigeria". Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Busari, Niyi. "Rivers Hoopers Crowned NBBF Final 4 Champions, Pick BAL Ticket". BSN Sports. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  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. ^ "26 clubs chase laurels as NBBF Men's Premier League". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 24 October 2023. 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. ^ a b "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.