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.