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.