Takoradi Polytechnic eked out a 49-46 victory over University of Cape-Coast (UCC) to seal top spot in Zone E of the 2016 Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship. The Western Region-based side thus earns a spot in the quarter finals of the Championship.
The third edition of the Rexona-headlined competition already had three institutions, University of Development Studies, University of Energy and Natural Resources and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, secure passage to the next round of the tournament, heading into qualifiers for Zone E.
As hosts, UCC started the game strongly by exhibiting the same level of energy and pizzazz that had pushed the team to beat city rivals Cape-Coast Polytechnic 46-35 in the derby. Buoyed on by the vociferous crowd who thronged the revamped basketball court to create the perfect ambience befitting a spectacular matchup between two behemoths, UCC controlled the tempo of the game; eventually controlled the lead.
With experienced Forward Mohammed Yakubu in the fold, coach Lawrence Ampiah’s side held the game’s lead till the mid point of the third quarter where Takoradi Poly made a great push to overturn the deficit and exchange leads with UCC. In the final quarter, Takoradi Polytechnic made several key adjustments including applying double teams which contributed in frustrating the home side and throwing them off their game.
Following the win, one half of Takoradi Poly’s duo responsible for the major comeback, Ernest Laryea said, “It was tough but we managed to get out of it and we managed to beat them”. Takoradi Polytechnic qualify to the next round of the competition undefeated and will represent the zone in Accra.
The 2016 UPAC Championship is supported by MTN, CAL Bank and Fanyogo in partnership with Basketballghana.com, TV3, YFM and Ghana Sports Newspaper.
