5th March, 2013
Defending champions, International School, Akoka, Lagos, ISL, will battle Doregos Private Academy, Lagos in the final of this year’s AKOFA Ivy Basketball League scheduled for Saturday at Avicenna College, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
ISL, who qualified for the male’s final after they defeated Whitesand School, Lekki, Lagos by 38-22 points, had to wait for an extra 7-days for the Doregos’ boys to edge out Avicenna College, GRA, Ikeja by 28-22 points in the other semi final.
In the female’s category, ISL will face Avicenna after both team outdunked Doregos and American International School in the semi final matches respectively.
In the junior boy’s and girls final matches already decided, ISL became champions as they defeated Doregos and Avicenna schools respectively.
Speaking ahead of the grand final scheduled to dunk off at 2pm on Saturday, the CEO of AKOFA Sports, John Bimbo Faniran, who is the Co-ordinator of the tourney, said that special dignitaries that include Enitan Osodi, Commissioner for Sports in Lagos State, Prince Wale Oldunjoye, Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, Babs Ogunade, chairman, Lagos State Basketball Association, LSBA are expected to grace the ocassion. Faniran added that with the standard of play exhibited by all teams in this year’s tournament, the organisers expect a tough final match.
“We’re very impressed with the standard of play of most of the teams that are participating in this tourney and, more importantly, the impressive results recorded by all the teams so far in the competition.
“The game can consolidate on the talents of these players if their parents can support them to improve on their game,” Faniran said.
The basketball competition organised annually for private secondary schools in Lagos and its environs took the first jump ball last month with over 20 schools participating in this year’s edition.
—Bamidele Olowosagba