KINBU AND TEMASCO TRIUMPH IN GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL SPRITE BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Kinbu Senior High (boys) took the mantle from St. Thomas Acquinas Senior High while Tema Senior High (girls) beat defending champions Sacred Hearts School to emerge champions as the curtain in the Regional Sprite Ball Championship was lowered at the El –Wak Stadium over the weekend.

The atmosphere was charged as over 30 schools entered the one –day event with the solitary aim of either settling old scores, maintaining dominance or to earn the bragging right in the Greater Accra region.

But at the end of the one-day tournament, it was the Tudu based Kinbu Senior High boys who demonstrated enourmous prowess to beat the highly fancied Presbeyterian Boys Senior High, Legon 15-13 to clinch the ultimate diadem in front of a packed crowd.

Kinbu exhibited sublime piece of basketball skills and adroitness to top their group which comprised of John Teye Memorial School, St Margaret Mary’s and Tema Senior High (boys).

Presec’s captain and point guard Julian Painstil will be one of the players to watch in the grand finale following his spectacular performance in the tournament. He inspired his team through the group qualifiers where they saw off the challenge of Ebenezer Senior High (Padua) and compatriots Presbyterian Senior High, Osu.

But they could not contain the resilience of the likes of David Frimpong, Raphael Boateng, Yaw Mensah and small forward Eric Boateng in the finale game which they bowed out 15-13 in a close contest.

None of the two schools dropped a point enroute to the finals and the hundreds of fans who thronged the venue to catch a glimpse of the excitement were held spell-bound during the two half game.

Unluckily, powerhouses like Accra Academy, Accra High and St Thomas Acquinas will have watch the action from the stands after they failed to make the grade in the Greater Accra Regional qualifiers.

Meanwhile Armed Forces Sec. Tech. (boys) placed third on technical grounds at the expense of Tema Senior High (boys) and thus book their place in the grand finale to be held at the same venue next month.

In a related development, Tema Senior High School (girls) dethroned champions Sacred Heart girls in the girls’ final 5-0 to lift the trophy in their division for the first time in the competition’s history. It was the befitting final after both sides had shown massive handiness, character and team work to dismantle their opponent before they met in the final game at the El-Wak Stadium.

Sacred Heart were tipped by the bookmakers to lift the trophy following the performances of star players Ruby Adamah, Patience Kumah, Rejoice Torko and Cynthia Addo but Temasco girls came out strongly in the finale game as they attacked from all cylinders with so much proficiency and before the defending champions could come out of their shelve, they were done and dusted by the onslaught of their opponent.

Meawnhile Social Advance Institute took the third place and will relish another opportunity to excel at the national championship on December 19th and 20th.

The number of qualifying schools has now risen to 36 from six regions and crazy basketball fans are waiting with baited breath for the final cliff hanger.

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.