Akosombo International School (AIS) last Saturday became the 2009 Eastern regional Sprite Ball Champions, believe it or not. The blues have unseated the basketball giants of the region, Suhum Secondary Technical School (SUTESCO) in a superb fashion. In all sixteen High Schools who qualified from their various zones participated. Pre-tournament favourite Pope John Senior High (POJOSS) after an impressive showing in their first two games were denied the chance to write their names in letters of gold. The Dam city boys put up a fabulous performance to white-wash POJOSS 11-10, a feat that enabled them to clinch their historic Sprite Ball Championship trophy under the tutelage of coach Francis Asare Korang.
In the semi-final duels Koforidua Secondary Technical School (KSTS) despite losing to POJOSS 15-5 were absolutely sensational, thanks to the ball handling techniques of their captain Emmanuel Amoako Eckow who also doubles as their point guard. SUTESCO on the other hand suffered a painful defeat to Akosombo International School (AIS) after winning all their matches in the preliminary round. KSTS took the third position when they beat their rival from Suhum Sec Tech (SUTESCO) to book a place in the grand finale slated for 19th and 20th of December in Accra.
In the girls category, new entrants Nkawkaw Senior High (NKWAWSEC) surprised the teaming fans when they outplayed and outclassed their contenders to lift the trophy. NKWAWSEC showed sublime piece of basketball artistry,quick and fast inter-positional passes coupled with excellent finish to beat the defending champions AIS (girls). Aburi Girls (ABUGIS) emerged third after tearing apart the defence of the Manfe based Methodist Girls High School. In all six schools from both the boys and girls category have thus qualified to represent the Eastern Region in the grand finale to be staged in Accra come Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th December, 2009 at the El-Wak Stadium. They are AIS, POJOSS, KSTS in the boys category and, NKWAWSEC, AIS and ABUGIS in the girls category.
The next stop of the competition is the Ashanti Region where Thirty (30) High Schools are ready to show their basketball abilities.
Sprite Ball Championship 2009 is brought to you by Sprite, Sprite your thirst, and co-sponsored by Indomie Noodles,tastes great, EFPAC-blows your pain away, Latex Foam –
Your partner for life , with support from Ink it, TV Africa, Joy FM, 90 minutes Newspaper, Ghana News Agency, Rock FM, Radio Xtacy and produced by Rite Multimedia, leaders in Basketball Development in Ghana.
