Ddetermination, dedication and team work are some of key words by the sole sponsor of Nestle Milo when the Milo Championship started 18years ago.
All these attributes were evident as the girls took the centre stage first at the Indoor Sports Hall of Asaba Stadium, Delta State.
Defending champions of the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships in the girls cadre, St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State on Tuesday began their title defence on a bright note in Group A, after defeating Harmony Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State, 40-06 in the opening match.
The Bayelsa Girls wasted no time in telling their opponents their mission at the championship, leading their opponent in all the quarters of the game.
They took the game beyond Kogi girls reach as they made them look ordinary and disorganised to the dissatisfaction of their fans.
Bayelsa captain, Odiowei Susan was arguably the star player of the match as her ball skills and good ball passes helped in outplaying Kogi’s team.
Susan speaking after the game, said that good teamwork and determination had given them the victory.
In the second match played in group B, Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos State out dunked Government Secondary School Gboko, Benue State by 37-25 points.
The three quarters of the game saw a well contested match as the results read, 3-7, 10-15 and 20-21 before Lagos pulled off in the final quarter to beat Benue 37-25 points.
In the boys’ category, Host boys Osadenis Mixed Secondary school Asaba, Delta State defeated General Muritala Muhammad College, Adamawa State by 53-26 points in group A.
Tinism Dickson of Adamawa said that his team lacked endurance and were not able to sustain the tempo in the all quarters of the match.
”We played well but could not sustain the tempo we started with, we lacked endurance and coordination, we hope to correct this in our next game,” Dickson said.