Ghana Technology University College’s (GTUC-Kumasi) exit from the 2016 Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship, played over the weekend at Kumasi Polytechnic was due to inferior stamina and strength according to the institution’s Sports Chairman Derrick Okuadjo.
The 2016 edition of UPAC, the third edition, is headlined by Rexona and had four institutions participate in Zone D qualifiers in Ghana’s Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi. Kumasi Polytechnic played host to Garden City University College, Kwame Nkrumah University College (KNUST) and GTUC.
Speaking to Basketballghana.com after his team’s exit from the competition, the young enterprising sports head was disappointed with his team’s end product saying:
“We tried our best to qualify as my players exhibited much of their skills and talent but our opponents were much stronger and had very good physique and stamina which gave them the advantage to win.
He was however optimistic his side will come back stronger next year, “We are going to work on our stamina and beat them next year” he added.
In its’ maiden appearance in Ghana’s biggest tertiary basketball tournament, Ghana Technology University-Kumasi lost 26-54 to eventual winners KNUST and 23-54 to the host institution. KNUST beat Kumasi Polytechnic 42-31 to secure the sole qualification spot from the zone.
KNUST join University of Development Studies and University of Energy and Natural Resources as qualified teams for the quarter finals of the competition which will take place on April 14 at the University of Ghana
The 2016 UPAC Championship is supported by MTN, CAL Bank and Fanyogo in partnership with Basketballghana.com, TV3, YFM and Ghana Sports Newspaper.
