18TH NESTLE MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CROSS RIVER,BAYELSA EMERGED EQUATORIAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

The Equatorial Conference final matches in the boys and girls Categories have been decided at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe international sstadium, Enugu.

The curtain raiser was the girls final which featured Marist Comprehensive Secondary School, Uturu Abia State and St. Jude girls secondary school Amarata, Bayelsa.

St.Jude girls took control from the first quarter and never relented until the final whistle with scores at 26-11 in favour of St Jude girls high school Bayelsa, Speaking at the end of the game Coach tony nelson of Bayelsa says he will step up preparation for the National finals in Asaba Delta state. “I am happy my girls got the ticket to be at the National final in Asaba. We are going to intensify our training”.

The boys final match between Akwa Ibom and Cross river was thrilling and sensational, Government Secondary School Barracks Cross River was a hard nut to crack by Ritman College Ikot Ikpene, Akwa Ibom State in well contested match, the Cross River boys took the lead in the first quarter with a 7-4 lead and recorded an 20-15, 24-23 before sealing their victory 35-32 in the final quarter.

The Barracks boys Coach, Omini Ubi, said his boys enjoyed team work, discipline and accurate shooting. “We play as a team my players had good understanding and always playing to instruction”. Apart from winning the Equatorial Conference, Captain of Govt Sec Sch Barracks Cross River state Micheal Mba was declared the Most Valuable Player (MVP). While Odiowei Susan of St Jude Girls high school Bayelsa won the girls (MVP).

Speaking after the final, Enugu State Commissioner for Sports Hon. Charles Ndukwe made the commendation at the final of the Equatorial Conference of the 18th Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship hosted by Enugu State, Hon Charles noted that the Championship has been able to engage young talents across the country.

18TH NESTLE MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
CROSS RIVER,BAYELSA EMERGED EQUATORIAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

“For the past 18 years the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship has committed itself to discovering and developing players from the grassroot. The youths are kept busy with the Championship all the year round. Which has helped to reduce some social vices” and Government of Enugu is looking forward to host the National Championship in the nearest future.

Also, Mr Boladale Odunlami Branch Manager-South East Nestle Nig Plc, said for nearly 20 years Milo has been at the forefront of basketball development in Nigeria through Milo secondary school basketball championship producing many top athletes in the sport, a large percentage of players in both the male and female national basketball teams today passed through the Milo championship at one points or the other, this years over 9000 school’s from the 36 states and the FCT are jostling for the prestigious trophy of championship, the Milo spirit is to support their drive to succeed and enable them enjoy the true achievement of reaching their personal best.