NAN-s-17
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos June 21, 2017(NAN) Goverment Secondary School, Minna, Niger state on Wednesday defeated Government Secondary School, FCT, Abuja, 65-60 to emerge champions of the 2017 edition of the Nestle Milo Secondary School, Basketball Championships in Lagos.
In a keenly contested match Niger showed more enthusiasm to stay ahead in all the four quarters of the match recording 20-20, 39-26, 45-44 before wrapping the game up at 65-60.
It was a memorable win for the Niger team who are first timers in the final and a sad loss to the Abuja team who lost in the 2016 finals and now in the 2017 finals.
In a related development, St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa overwhelmed Yejide Girls Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo, 41-14 to emerge the champions in the girls’ category.
It would be the fourth time the Bayelsan girls were lifting the championship trophy having won it in 2012, 2013, 2015 and now 2017 while Yejide is yet to repeat their feat of 1999.
The host state, Lagos, represented by Wesley Girls Secondary School, defeated Government Secondary School, Gboko-Benue, 37-31 to claim the third place position.
St. Augustine’s Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi defeated Greater Tomorrow Secondary School, Ondo, 37-31 to claim this year’s third place winners of the competition.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Head coach of the Niger team, Kudu Umar, said that it was a victory well deserved.
“I am very happy for my players, they have shown great team spirit and diligence to reach this state and indeed it was victory achieved through hard work.
“We will continue to improve on players as we believe developing these young athletes through sports participation.
“So we are very thankful to Nestle Nigeria PLC for the opportunity provided for this young stars to prove their worth,’’ Umar said.
Tony Nelson the Head coach of St Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, said that he was overwhelmed with joy for the achievement and ascribed the success to the school’s passion for sports.
“We have a solid culture for developing our youths through sports participation, over the years it has continue to be where youths are made to believe in sports participation.
.“There is healthy rivalry within the school on which sport brings more glory and laurel to the school and we are proud basketball is one sport that has done that for us.
“We thank the management of Nestle Nigeria PLC for their support over the years they backed basketball we urge other private individuals or corporate bodies to toe this lane,’’ Nelson said.
Meanwhile the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mauricio Alarcon said that he was happy about the competition especially the final match which was very entertaining.
“I am happy about the competition, the 2017 edition is definitely a success, the players have shown good sportsmanship and great display of skills.
“In the past the competition has always been the bedrock of producing players for the states and especially the national teams for male and female.
“This is why we tagged the edition, ‘’Building Champions for Life,’’ Alarcon said.
NAN reports that over 9000 school participated in this year’s edition with no fewer than 100,000 students’ involved which is the 19th edition.
Fans were thrilled by the introduction of Nigeria’s hip-hop star Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike popularly known as Phyno, who played some of his hit tunes to their delight.
The competition dunked-off on June 17 ended on June 21 with 12 teams competing for honours at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos (NAN)
BAO/YAZ