NAN-S-
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
June 16, 2017 (NAN) Wesley College, Lagos will begin the defence of their title as they play Government Secondary School, Wuse as the 19th edition of the Nestle Milo basketball championships finals get underway in Lagos.
The competition, which is rated as the biggest basketball event in the grassroots/secondary school, had no fewer than 150,000 students drawn from 9000 secondary schools competing for this year’s trophy.
Twelve secondary schools for male and female will engage each other from June 17 to June 21 when the winners for the girls and boys categories will emerge.
Olufemi Akintola, the Category Manager, Nestle Nig. PLC, at a news conference to herald this year’s event sad that the company was always proud to support basketball as a tool to develop youths.
The event was held on Friday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
“It’s always a thing of joy for us when the competition comes on because we know how much this competition means to the youths, their schools, particularly their parents.
“We remain committed to the core values which were set in 1998 when we began the journey, this we are proud of as the passion is a long time focused objective.
“Our mantra which is “Milo the energy food drink for future champions’’ over the years has succeeded to provide talents for Nigeria basketball and develop youths in values to succeed in life,’’ he said.
Akintola added that this year’s final will also witness something unique as plans were underway to bring products of the competitions that have turned successful in their respective fields.
“We are going to have individuals that in the past have future in the competition and have gone ahead to be successful individuals in their various choices of life.
“This is a major aspect of why we love basketball and why we use it as a tool to develop youths over the years,’’ he said. (NAN)
BAO/YAZ