Team Rivers defeated Team Plateau 63-58 to pick gold in the fiercely contested final of the men’s basketball final at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun State.

The thrilling showdown on Friday at the jam-packed Alake Sports Centre, Abeokuta, lived up to expectations, with both teams showcasing grit, skill, and determination.

The Rivers team held a slight edge for most of the game, but the Plateau boys kept the pressure on right up to the final buzzer.

In the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, Rivers’ tactical execution and defensive resilience proved decisive, as they held off a late surge by Plateau to seal the precious win.

With this win, Rivers solidifies its place among the top basketball teams in the country, while Team Plateau takes home a hard-fought silver.

The basketball final was one of the highlights of Day 6 of the ongoing NSF-tagged Gateway Games 2024.

The games, which started on May 16, will end on May 30.

(NAN)