Nestle Milo Competition will be explosive – Walter

Reigning champion in the girls cadre of the Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship, Queen Amina College, Kaduna will today open her title defense against Government Girls Secondary School, Doma, Gombe State in the grand finale of the foremost youth competition in Nigeria.

The grand finale which tips today at the sport hall of the national stadium, Lagos will witness five other pairings.

According to the draws held last Friday in the premises of the food drink giant in Lagos, Nigeria University of Lagos International School will slug it out against Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Bauchi in what promises to be an explosive match-up.

Speaking during the draws, Managing Director of Nestle Nigeria PLC, Martin Woolnough who was represented at the occasion by the Finance and Control Director, Jacques Vauthier, says that apart from helping accelerate the development of basketball, positively engaging the energy of youths and fostering better social interaction and the spirit of sportsmanship, the annual nationwide championship is a platform to remind Nigerians of the critical link between, sport, good health and wellness.

“It has been 10 positive years of exciting basketball matches, quality officiating, good display of the spirit of sportsmanship, passionate play, high energy, great skill, discipline and teamwork”, he said.

He explained that Nestle Milo’s commitment to the game has helped in the last 10 years to make basketball Nigeria’s favourite sport while creating a bigger pool of talents to represent the country at international basketball events.

Nestlé’s Category Business Manager (Beverages), Walter Okafor said the national finals promises to be exciting, explosive, entertaining and rewarding for the participating teams.

He said the first placed teams in the boys and girls categories will each be given a branded basketball court which will be constructed in their schools while the second and third placed teams will receive cash prize to the tune of =N=150,000 and =N=100,000 respectively.

Individual prizes will include medals to each member of the top three teams, trophies to the Most Valuable Players (MVP), best 3-Point Shooter, Best in Slam Dunk and a Fair Play trophy to deserving schools in each category.

The Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship will be rounded up with an explosive final on October 12, while the NBA/Top 50 Camp which provides international coaching and exposure for outstanding graduates of the Milo basketball clinics and secondary school championships and a “Train-The-Trainers Camp” for Nigerian basketball coaches will follow immediately from October 13-14.