The 2010 edition of the ipNX Rookies Basketball Championship came to a close last Friday at the Sports Hall of the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos with Delta State Impression basketball club teams carting away all the top prizes in the different categories of the championship.
The Delta State Impression team defeated Rookies Basketball Academy in the U18 Men finals by 32-27 points in a keenly contested grand finale watched by capacity crowd.
To get to the final the Impression boys had defeated Tornadoes Basketball team by 23-21 points in the first semi-finals while Rookies had the better of Raptors Academy by 23-17 points in the second semi-finals.
Impression thus become the first side to win final of the U18 Men outside the Rookies Academy in the last five years and made away with a giant trophy and the N100, 000 cash prize.
Impression ladies also defeated Rookies ladies by 34-27 points to cart away the top prize of a giant trophy and N50, 000 cash prize in the Women U18 cadre, Impression completed its dominance by winning the U16 Men beating Raptors Academy to the title it won last year.
The grand finale watched by top dignitaries of the Lagos State Basketball Association led by its chairman, Babs Ogunade, top managment staff of the sponsor, ipNX Nigeria Limited led by its Executive Director Ifeanyi Amah and top echelon of the Nigeria Police Sports Council ably represented by its Secretary Assistant Commissioner of Police Bankole Anderson appaluded the organisation of the 5-Day championship which climax basketball activities in Nigeria for the outgoing year.
ipNX Business Development Manager, Segun Okuneye says the company is happy with the turn-out of fans for the finals, he also applauded the teams for putting up a good conduct.
Okuneye reiterated the company commitement to the continuous support for the annual championship and other programmes of the Rookies Basketball Academy.
We are pleased with the turn-out of fans for the grand finale and we are equally impressed with the conduct of the participating teams, this has rekindle our desire to be part of the continuous development of basketball from the grassroot.
We want to assure the youth of the country that ipNX as a responsible corporate body is committed to their development through basketball and shall remain steadfast in it.
ipNX will like to congratulate the organisers, participating teams whether they win or not and the official for a job well-done, concluded Okuneye.
Championship Coordinator, Coach Mark Balogun gave assurance that the championship will continue to contribute to the development of the Nigerian youth through basketball.
The founder of the Rookies Basketball Academy says he is happy with the standard of the game and promised that the organisers will not relent in their bid to provide an avenue for the young players to show-case their skill.
The 2011 edition of the championship according to reliable source close to both the organisers and sponsor hinted that plans are underway to move the championship out of its December period soa s to make it more glamorous while other events that will contribute to the betterment of the game such as training of officials (referees and table officials) and clinics are being considered.
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