Reported by: Sylvester Tamba
Paynesville, Liberia – NPA Pythons have been crowned champions of the 2026 Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) First Division League after defeating LPRC Oilers 3–2 in the best-of-five championship series on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Gymnasium.
The Pythons secured the decisive victory in Game Five, defeating LPRC Oilers 46–38 to claim the championship after the series was tied at 2–2. NPA Pythons held their nerve in the decisive encounter to secure the First Division title and end a highly competitive championship series between two of Liberia’s leading basketball clubs.
As champions, NPA Pythons will represent Liberia in the upcoming FIBA Men’s Club competition, where they will carry the country’s hopes on the international stage. LPRC Oilers finished the season as runners-up after pushing the championship series to the decisive fifth game.
Meanwhile, D-Rockas won the LBA women’s division after defeating Flames 3–2 in the best-of-five series. D-Rockas won Game Five 61–58 to secure the championship.
In the men’s Second Division, Bushrod Dreams emerged champions after defeating Paynesville Bulldogs 3–1, while Junior Rockies captured the Third Division title with a 3–1 series victory over Louisiana Blazers.
Individual Awards
First Division MVP: Jerror Tarwo — NPA Pythons
Women’s Division MVP: Ginny Johnson—D-Rockas
Third Division MVP: Bedell Freeman — Junior Rockies
Best Coach: Raphael Quaye — NPA Pythons
The 2026 LBA season concluded with the crowning of champions across the various divisions, highlighting the continued growth and competitiveness of basketball in Liberia. Both NPA Pythons and D-Rockas will represent Liberia in the next edition of FIBA inter-club competitions in their respective categories.
