17th Milo Basketball Tourney: Lagos, Oyo win tickets for national finals

Taiwo Adelu

Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos and Yejide Grammar School Ibadan, Oyo State have emerged champions in the boys and girls categories respectively in the Western Conference of the 17th edition of Nestle Milo Secondary Basketball Championships concluded at the indoor sports hall of Liberty Stadium, Ibadan on Tuesday.

To emerge victorious in the boy’s category, Ilupeju Grammar Lagos, out dunked Don Domingo Secondary School, Warri, Delta State by 37-28 points. Coach Olayinka Oyewunmi of Ilupeju Grammar School revealed after the victory that his team had proven their capabilities by qualifying for the National Finals in Lagos from Western Conference.

In the girls’ final, Western Conference’s defending champions, Yejide Grammar School, Ibadan, were in their best beating Zeal College, Otta, Ogun State by 37-21 points.

Captain of Yejide Grammar School, Ibadan, Mattew Busayo, said after the game that “we are very happy to made it to National Final in Lagos, the next step for us is to prepare well, correcting our mistakes and strategize our game plan because this is where the champions of each conferences play. I want to say that we are ready and very optimistic of our chance,” Busayo said.

Mr. Dairo Jacob, who represented National President of Nigeria Schools Sports Federation, NSSF, was delighted with the standard of the tournament and thanked Nestle Milo, sole sponsor of the championship.

Meanwhile, Nestle Nigeria Plc., Category Business Manager, Mr. Femi Akintola reiterated the company’s resolves to continue to contribute its quota to the development of basketball in the country.

According to Akintola, it is the belief of the company that sports serves as a suitable platform for youths to learn values such as honestly, teamwork, fair play, respect, adherence to rules, discipline, perseverance, resilience and a strong sense of purpose.

“These are the motivating factor behind Nestle’s commitment to this championship,” Akintola said.