17TH MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: BAYELSA AND KADUNA ARE CHAMPIONS

The 2015 edition of the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship for Secondary Schools has been rounded off with two thrilling finals in the girls and boys categories.

The curtain raiser was the girls final match which featured two rival teams from the Atlantic Conference St. Judes Girls Secondary School Amaranta Bayelsa State and Idiah College Benin City. Both teams emerged from group B during the preliminary rounds with Bayelsa as the better side.

The final match was full of expectations as the Idiah College Benin City depended on their past glory when they stopped St. Judes Girls at the Atlantic Conference Final in Benin City. But the Bayelsa girls were very confident and determined to make a mark at this year’s championship with 18 -15 victory over the Edo girls.

Coach Tony Nelson of St. Judes Girls Amaranta Bayelsa said he identified the antidote to check the Edo girls when they beat them in the preliminaries 25-19. “We used the same match plan to tackle them in the final and it paid off. This is the 4th time we are meeting this year. We emerged victorious in three of them’’. Coach Philip Ojo of Idiah College Benin City said his girls just lost grip of the game. ‘’Our shooting could not come on fine and my key players suffered fatigue”

The boys’ final match was thrilling and sensational. Debutants, St. Peters College Idah, Kogi state almost recorded an upset against Government Secondary School Kaduna State. But thanks to the shooting prowess of the championship Most Valuable Player David Isa of Kaduna who lifted his team’s spirit with the saving grace to make it 52-51.

Coach Rizzama Shenini of Kogi who wept after the match said his players were tense. “I tried to calm my players down, you know at a point there was confusion and those fouls against us did not help matters”

Coach James Jatau agreed he met a good side. “I recall we had the same situation in Akure. I was able to control my players and it was the same Isa that we relied upon”

Trophies, Cash prizes, Certificates, Training shoes, Milo balls and Milo packs were given to the winners.

17TH MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SEMI-FINAL PAIRINGS, BOYS, LAGOS VS KOGI, EBONYI VS KADUNA

Group B winners in the boys category Ilupeju Grammar School Lagos State were first to pick the semi final ticket. The Eko boys thrashed Ebonyi and Benue State flag bearers to record two clear victories to book for a place in the semi final of the 2015 edition of Nestle Milo Basketball Championship final at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The pairing shows that Ilupeju Grammar School will battle St. Peters College Idah, Kogi State in search for a place in this year’s final. Coach Rizzama Shenini of St. Peters College Idah says he is aware of the crowd support for the Lagos team especially with the presence of their point guard Anthony Gospel of Ilupeju Grammar School. “My boys are aware of the challenges as regards crowd support and we need to stay focused without losing concentration. We have a good chance”

Coach Yinka Oyeyemi of Ilupeju Grammar School confirmed that his team did not struggle to qualify like others. “I have a good team. We have been working on some of the errors observed in our last two games. Our shooting has been perfect, our marking is okay. My boys are set to play in the final”.

17th Milo Championship

The Atlantic Conference defending champion St. Augustine’s Seminary Ezzanugbo Ebonyi State with some difficulties in qualifying for the semi final will take on Government Boys Secondary School Barnawa, Kaduna State. The Seminarians got a Shocker from Ilupeju Grammar School in their opening game and struggled in the second game to pick maximum points against Benue State. The Seminarians coach Rev. Fr. Donatus Ofuluozor says he is aware his team is the target as the defending champions.

“We are being very cautions. Everybody wants to get something from my team. We work as a team at each others disposal. I can see my boys in the final by the special grace of God”.

St. Augustine’s Seminary Ezzanugbo Ebonyi State

Coach James Jatau of Government Secondary School Baranawa says he has watched his opponents St. Augustine’s Seminary Ezzanugbo. “They are tactically good but I know they easily lose concentration”.

However, St. Josephs College Benue and General Muritala Mohammed College Yola Adamawa State are to play for classification.

17TH MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: NIGER, EDO, BAYELSA GIRLS THROUGH TO SEMI FINAL

As the qualifiers for the National final at the indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos continue the struggle to show case their basketball skills, the picture is getting very clearer in the girls category.

Niger State flag bearers Government Girls Secondary School Bida are set to play in the semi final of the Championship. The team beat kano State representatives Government Girls Secondary School Jogana 24-10, the team had earlier defeated Government Secondary School Numan Adamawa 26-16 to get the free ride to play in the semi finals.

Bayelsa State team, St Judes Girls Secondary School Amarsta, also got a place in the semi finals with its 29-28 victory over Yejide Girls Grammar School Ibadan, Oyo State. However, Bayelsa and Edo will lock horns to know the final placing before the semi final match.

Coach Tony Nelson of Bayelsa State says his team cannot afford to make any mistakes. “We met in the Atlantic Conference final and my girls made so many errors that led to our defeat. This time around we will show them we have corrected those mistakes”. Team Captain of Bayelsa girls Faith Jeremiah is optimistic. “The National final is not the Conference Final. We know them too well, my team mates are very fit. It will be decided on the court”.

Although Yejide Girls Grammar School Ibadan, Oyo State is no more in contention for the top position. However, the team will continue to honour his matches for classification.

photo credit Afolabi Oni Guarantor

17TH MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: LAGOS SHOCKS EBONYI, NIGER, EDO ALSO SHINE.

The 2014 Atlantic Conference Champions St. Augustine Seminary Ezzanugbo Ebonyi State failed to contain the fireworks in the group B first match in the boys category against Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos State.

The Ebonyi boys started very well in the first and second quarters but could not manage their success in the last two quarters of the encounter which ended 32-25. Inspite of the pep talk and constant piloting by Rev. Fr. Donatus Ofuluozor the Ebonyi boys could not stop the rampaging Ilupeju Grammar School Lagos State.

“My boys lost grip in the 3rd quarter. So many fouls were against them and their shooting was also suspect. We have put that match behind us”. Rev. Fr. Ofuluozor said.

Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.

Coach Yinka Oyeyemi of Ilupeju Grammar School whose boys put in an extra effort in the fourth quarter was pleased with the result. “It is good to start well, the champions from various Conferences are here in Lagos to pick the trophy. We have to be cautious, take our chances and make sure we finish well”.

In another encounter in group A St. Peter’s Idah Kogi State defeated Government Secondary School Barnawa, Kaduna State 45-43. Coach Riznma Sheneni of Kogi State believes the encounter was a very tough one.

“The margin was too close. It could have gone either way but my team was lucky and i did a lot from the bench”.

In the girls cadre, Niger State flag bearer Government Secondary School Bida defeated Government Secondary School Numan Adamawa State 26-16.

MILO SECONDARY SCHOOLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: NIGER, EDO, KOGI — IN GOOD START

The 3 month secondary schools basketball season is winding down with the national finals of the Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship which began, Tuesday, at the Indoor Sports hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.

Niger State representatives in the girls’ category, Government Girls Secondary School Bida, Niger State overpowered Government Girls Secondary School Numan, Adamawa State. It was a balanced game until the last quarter when the Niger state girls broke away to take the game at 26 points to 16.

In the second game in the girls’ category, Idia College, Benin-City Edo State came from behind in the last quarter to beat the Western Conference champions, Yejide Grammar School of Ibadan, Oyo State by 19-17.
Speaking after the match, Philip Ojo Head Coach of Idia College said that their style of play gave them the edge over their opponents.

Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.

According to him, “our very fast style of play makes us almost invincible to our opponents. We have a strong team. Hard work is also key to our success. So far, we are confident of achieving our aim, which is to emerge winners at the end of the championship.”

Meanwhile, Yejide girls forward Busayo Matthew said, her side lost to Edo because they could not cope with fast pace but boasted that they will surely bounce back from the defeat because it was an eye-opener.

In the boys category, St. Peter College Idah, Kogi State picked a valuable 45-43 points victory over Government Secondary School Barnawa, Kaduna State while Ilupeju Grammar School defeated St.Josephs College Nyimah, Benue state by 32-25 points

NESTLE MILO SECONDARY SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: BEST TWELVE SCHOOLS TO VIE FOR HONOURS

The Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, now in its 17th year, will climax with the Finals which will begin tomorrow, Monday and end on Saturday, June 6. Over 10,000 schools from across the country took part in the preliminaries which will now culminate in the finals at the indoor sports complex of the National Stadium, Lagos.

The schools that will feature in the finals of the boys category include, Government Secondary School Barnawa, Kaduna state, Augustine Seminary School Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State, Saint Peter College Idah, Kogi State and Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos State.

General Murtala College Yola, Adamawa State and St Joseph College Makurdi Benue State qualified as best losers from the Conference play offs.

Nestle presents the 17th Milo Basketball Championship

In the Girls category are Yejide Grammar School Ibadan Oyo State, Government Secondary School Bida, Niger State, Idia College Benin Edo State and Government Girls Secondary school Yola Adamawa State.
St Jude College Amarata Balyesa State and Government Secondary School Jogana Kano State also made the finals as best losers from the Conference play offs.

This year, outstanding players selected from all the participating schools would form an all-star team that would represent Nigeria at the world college basketball championship and other international competition to be decided by Nigeria Schools Sport Federation (NSSF). The best 50 players will also be invited to camp in August and will receive tutelage from a team of NBA coaches led by Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors.

Nestle PLC’s Category Manager, Beverages, Femi Akintola told reporters in Lagos that there will be lots of excitement for the players and spectators at this year’s finals where top class musician, Olamide and the Explicit Dance Group will perform live at intervals.

The 2015 edition also promises exciting innovations like online activation and more engagement with the kids on social media platforms. Already prizes are being won in stores across the country in the Slam To Win Promo as the brand tries to spread the ‘basketball fever’ to all consumers.

Coach of the The Ogun State addressing his wards during The Semi-final Of The 17Th Milo Basketball Championships Zonal Qualifiers

Two schools from Benue State won the 2014 Championships. Jesus College, Otukpo were the Boys Champions while Government Secondary School, Gboko won in the Girls category Femi Akintola says Nestle Milo tries to communicate, to the students, the great values of sport as a teacher through Determination, Discipline, Honesty, and Confidence.

According to him, “sports is a great teacher and children’s participation in sports helps set the foundation for a solid future. They learn determination to succeed, discipline to persevere and many more life values by participating in sport. We will continue to provide them this platform”