18TH NESTLE MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: EQUATORIAL CONFERENCE FINALISTS EMERGE

Hard fighting St Augustine Seminary, Ezzanugbo, Ebonyi State had a bitter pill to swallow as they were narrowly defeated by Ritman College Ikot-Ikpene, Akwa Ibom State, at the ongoing Nestlé Milo Secondary School Basketball championship at indoor sport Hall of Nnamdi Azikwe stadium, Enugu.

The Ebonyi boys started very well in the opening two quarters but could not manage their success in the last two quarters of the encounter which ended 24-23.

Inspite of the pep talk and constant encouragement by Rev. Fr. Donatus Ofuluozor, the Ebonyi boys could not stop the rampaging Ritman College from emerging victorious in the semi final match.

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

In the second semi final of the boys event, Government Secondary School Barracks, Cross River State defeated Holy Ghost College Owerri, Imo State 26-20 points.

The girls category saw Abia State flagbearers, Marist Comprehensive Secondary School defeat hard-fighting Fortune High School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with a great display of skills and determination. The game ended 16-13 points in favour of the Abia side.

The Akwa Ibom girls started stronger winning the opening quarter, second quarter and third quarter before being out scored in the last quarter.

18th Nestlé Milo Secondary School Basketball championship

The Marist resurgence inspired by Mbonu Mmensoma and Ikeobi Amalachukwu who came out smoking and overturned the deficit in the last quarter, Abia State coach, Akunne Luke who was full of praise for his girls for the hard-fought victory, expressed confidence in the team ahead of final match against Bayelsa.

He said, “We are here to win, just like every other schools in the Conference. We are improving with every game we play, and I must commend the girls for today’s (Thursday) win. It was not an easy game, but we thank God that we won.

Bayelsa will slug it out against Abia in the girls final, while Cross River will take on Akwa Ibom in the boys category.

18TH NESTLE MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP EQUITORIAL CONFERENCE: BAYELSA, ENUGU LAND IN SEMI-FINAL

St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State will square up against Trans Ekulu Girls Secondary School Enugu State in the semi-final of the ongoing Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship Equitorial Conference at the indoor sport hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium.

The Bayelsa girls earned their ticket to the last four after overcoming Emeka Aghasili High School Nuse, Anambra State in a ruthless 45-02 points victory.

Tena Ikidi and Grace John were the outstanding players. Their explosive moves disorganized the girls from Anambra.

Trans Ekulu Girls Secondary School Enugu State had to wait till the last quarter to claim a 12-09 victory against hard fighting Federal Airport Authority Secondary School, Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

Holy Rosary International College, Owerri, Imo State, got more than what they bargained for, as they were beaten 18-11 points by their more illustrious opponents, Marist Comprehensive Secondary School, Uturu, Abia state.

The last quarter final match saw Fortune High School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State outclass Annunciation Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 19-14 points.

Girls Semi Final Pairings:

Bayelsa will meet Enugu while Abia confront Akwa Ibom.

Speaking after match, Mr Samuel Abagi, Vice president of the National School Sports Federation, “affirmed” that Nestle Nigeria PLC has carved a niche for itself in the development of sports in Nigeria particularly, the development of basketball. The Milo brand through the sponsorship of this championship has become a household name in our schools, thus this is evident in the continual increase in the number of participating schools annually, he said.

18th NESTLE MILO BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FCT, BENUE IN CENTRAL CONFERENCE SEMI FINAL

Action continued at Indoor Sports Hall of University of Ilorin kwara State, for the Central Conference of Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship.

The Girls from Saint Charles College Ilorin, kwara state were a depleted team all through the game and could not live up to the expectations of their home fans when they confronted Government Secondary School Gboko, Benue state in first quarter final game.

The Kwara girls struggled in all departments of the game and could not keep up with the pace and tenacity of the Benue girls’ power play who won with a convincing 57-06 points.

Coach Aondona Zakaa of the Benue team said after the match that his players played very well to earn their win. “I am impressed with their performance; this is the kind of commitment I ask of them on every match day,” Zakaa said.

In the other quarter final match, Government Secondary School Wuse, Abuja defeated ECWA High School Keffi, Nasarawa State by 18-09 points, while Queen Amina College, Kaduna beat Government Secondary School Gusua, Zamfara State with 13-03.

In the boys category, Government Secondary School Karu, Abuja secured their place in the semi final with a 47-09 victory over Army Day Secondary School Birnin kebbi, Kebbi State.

The semi Final pairings: In the Girls’ category, FCT will confront Kaduna, while Niger will lock horns with Benue. In the boys category, Niger will face FCT, while Kwara will take on Nasarawa.