By Bolaji Okunola
The 25th Milo National Secondary Schools Basketball Championship ends in grand style as Father O’ Connell Science College, Niger State and Government Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, respectively emerged winner in the boys and girls category.
The much anticipated final which was played on Thursday, 26th of June at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, saw total of twelves schools jostle for the premier prize.
The male’s final ended in a nail-biting finish after Isaiah John’s free throw in the dying seconds of extra time, delivered a close 66-64 victory to Father O’Connell Science College over their hard-fighting rivals from Bayelsa State, Bishop Dimieari Grammar School.
In a lively encounter that kept spectators at the edge of their seats, Bishop Dimieari Grammar School led 20–14 at the close of the first quarter and stayed ahead 31–27 into halftime while Father O’Connell Science College bounced to take a 44–39 lead in the third. Regulation time ended at a deadlock at 57–57, setting the stage for an extra period and both fought toe-to-toe until a winner could emerge.
Earlier in the female’s final, Government Secondary School, Karu easily over-powered Lanre Leke Academy of Osun State following a 55–42 win.
While both the male and female category winner champions got N3 million as prize money, the two runners-up earned N2 million apiece.
In the boys’ classifications , Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa Life Camp (FCT), took third place with a N1.5 million prize, followed by Government Secondary School (Adamawa), David Hall College (Lagos), and Ahmadiyya College (Kano) in fourth, fifth, and sixth places respectively.
Meanwhile, Government Girls Secondary School (Adamawa) finished third in the girl’s category and also earned N1.5 million, while St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School (Bayelsa), Onireke High School, GRA (Oyo), and Ahmadiyya College (Kano) rounded out the top six.
The annual basketball fiesta was graced by, President, FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), Nestle Category Manager, Beverages, Mrs Ifeanyi Orabuche and MD, Nestle Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini amongst hosts of others.