Takoradi Polytechnic has delivered a stunning 59-57 win over highly rated Group B opponents Marshalls University College in the opening game of the 2016 Universities, Polytechnics and College (UPAC) Basketball Championship.
The games which are being played at Accra Polytechnic will also have University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) take on Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the next game in Group B.
The close game stayed through right from the start to the very end as both teams exchanged leads several times in enthralling fashion to kickstart the Championship in the best possible way. Though Takoradi Polytechnic’s team-oriented game had all starters play key role in the game, Kent Fosu, Ernest Ottu and Samuel Abbey.
Marshalls University came into the game on the back of losing narrowly to University of Ghana in Zone G’s final game and were highly tipped to start the championship on a winning note. However, Marshalls looked jittery right from the start and it cost them the game’s lead in the first half. Losing 24-25 in the first half would have been hard to fathom in the first quarter but a wild rally made that possible.
In the end, Takoradi Polytechnic had done enough damage in major sections of the game to earn a slim win to get their championship run off to a winning start albiet with a little help from Marshalls woeful shooting. The team will play Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in the next game. KNUST beat Takoradi Polytechnic in last year’s quarter final matchup.
The 2016 UPAC Championship is headlined by Rexona, supported by MTN, CAL Bank and Fanyogo in partnership with Basketballghana.com, TV3, Y FM and Ghana Sports Newspaper.
