The list of qualified schools for 2016 Sprite Ball Championship is gradually shaping up as momentum continues to build ahead of Ghana’s biggest basketball competition.
The championship will feature 26 schools compete against each other in boys’ and girls’ categories respectively between January 3-7, 2016 at El-Wak Stadium in the country’s capital, Accra.
Basketballghana.com takes a look at favorites for the title after focusing on the surprise packages for the upcoming tournament in previous post.
Opoku Ware School (Ashanti Region)
Claiming consecutive bronze medals at the championship put Opoku Ware in strong contention for a first ever trophy. The “Akatakyie” lads breezed through qualification to set themselves up for another title run come January.
The team has hold overs from last year’s bronze winning side Emmanuel Opare and Harris Awudu and are preparing with the sole intent on getting over the hump of losing out on the final game.
The basketball world should keep an eye out for OWASS and Canadian-born Ghanaian Emmanuel Owuraku Agyapong who is the talk of basketball in Kumasi.
Mfantsipim School (Central Region)
The defending champions shouldn’t have any problems motivating themselves as a fifth Sprite Ball Championship trophy will surely drive any player to make the impossible a reality.
“The School” has had a wonderful run in the competition by winning four of the past five editions on the back of splendid and utter worldly performances from Daniel Owusu and Most Valuable Player of last year’s tournament, Jaman Salifu.
Though both players have progressed to the tertiary level, Mfantsipim’s trusted system of recruiting standout fresh men and sophomores means the school will be in the mix once more.
T.I. Ahmediyya Senior High School (Ashanti Region)
Like Mfantsipim, T.I. AMASS go into the tournament as defending champions with a sole quest to annex a third consecutive national title and equal Mfantsipim’s record of three straight titles.
T.I. AMASS remains as the best school in Ghana’s “Royal” region as they coasted through the qualifiers to bag yet another regional title. The ladies have made T.I. AMASS a must stop destination for basketball in the country.
Many teams have tried and failed in steering the school away from the path of greatness and next year’s competition seems about to go that way.
Aggrey Memorial Mount Zion School (Central Region)
Aggrey’s male basketball team made history after they qualified for the championship for the first time. Likewise, Aggrey will have both its boys’ and girls’ categories represent in next year’s competition.
The former champions are on course for a repeat final against T.I. AMASS since the latter has prevented Aggrey from winning the ultimate trophy on two occasions.
Having breezed through qualifiaction without any difficulties, Aggrey look primed for a major shake up in the girls’ division come January.
