NGR - Rookies, UNILAG Academy for Bounce 9ja finals

LAGOS (Youth Tournament) - Police Rookies Basketball Academy has made it to the grand finale of the first Bounce 9ja basketball academy tournament which commences on Monday at the Sports Centre of the University of Lagos.

The Coaches Mark Balogun, Emeka Oputa and Maurice Omatoje tutored Police rookies academy will confront the University of Lagos Bulldogs academy in the final at 15.00 hours local time.

To make it to the grand finale Rookies academy defeated hard fighting United Blazers basketball academy by 40-31 points while UNILAG Bulldogs handed down a 31-27 point’s defeat of Warriors Academy.

The Rookies will bank on youthful and the Nigeria U16 national cadet team point guard, Peter Odia kid brother of Nigeria international point guard Churchill Odia to wreck their opponent in Saturday final.

Warriors Academy and United Blazers will slug it in the bronze medal game at 13.00 hours.

University of Lagos women team known as UNILAG Queens will battle Inspector General of Police (I.G Queens) in the women finals at noon.

Tournament coordinator, Adenike Carew says there would be an All-Star game that will involve selected male and female players from the various academies that took part in the first ever all-academy tournament.

She expressed satisfaction in a chat with our correspondent about the large turn-out of teams and fans for the tourney.

According to her, the tournament would become an annual event and will strive to maintain the purpose it is stated for, helping the various academies in Lagos State and its environs an avenue to express them-selves in a friendly atmosphere.

“I am impressed with the response from the various academies and the fans also gladdened my heart with they way they kept supporting the teams and the players and with these I am confident that the next edition of the tournament will surpass what we have this time in terms of organizational structure and prizes that would be won, she concluded.

By Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA