The 20th edition of the Milo Basketball secondary school Championship came to an end on Thursday, as Niger and Bayelsa states emerged national champions after four pulsating quarters of basketball action.
Father O’Connel Science College, Niger State defeated General Murtala Mohammed College, Adamawa State 60-59 to emerge champions in the male category; while St. Jude’s Girls secondary school, Bayelsa State won 48-21 against Yejide Girls Grammar School, Oyo State as they successfully defended the title they won last year.
Speaking to ACLSports after the game was the most valuable player in the male and female categories; both from the winning team.
First was Isiaku Usman of Father O’Connel Science College, Niger State. “I am very happy,” he said all smiles; “but I do not have much to say. I just want to thank God and the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) for this award.”
Speaking on his previous experience as a bench warmer Usman said: “It is not my first time in this tournament. We won it in 2016 but I was on the bench as I didn’t train hard enough to make the first team.”
He then added that he would like to play for Niger Potters in future and would like to be like Abubakar Usman of D’Tigers.
Donano Regina of St. Jude’s Girls secondary school, Bayelsa emerged the female MVP player of 2018 Milo Basketball Championship and she shared her thoughts right after receiving the award.
“I feel really excited. I feel like I’ve been paid for my hard work, determination and all that. It’s not my first time in this tournament because we won last year but I didn’t win the MVP award,” the delighted teenager said.
“In future I want to take basketball as a career that is why I put in a lot of effort and I’m looking forward to playing in the WNBA; that’s the highest level,” she added.
The fair play award went to the third place teams in the male and female categories namely: St. Augustine’s Seminary, Ebonyi State and Government secondary school, FCT, Abuja. In addition to that was ₦100,000 prize money, bronze medals, Milo products and a certificate of participation.
The second place winners went home with ₦120,000, Nike trainers, Milo products, silver medals and a certificate of participation; while the winners were rewarded with ₦150,000 prize money, gold medals, Nike trainers, Milo products, and a certificate of participation.
