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The 2010 Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship, got underway on Tuesday in Lagos with the representatives of Delta and Kwara respectively enjoying good starts to their quest for honours at the annual tournament.

In the girls category, Delta’s Asaba Girls Grammar School defeated their counterparts from Kano state, Queen Amina College 44-12 to set the ball rolling in the championship that is now in its 12th year.

If the opening match of the championship, which is taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, was one-sided the very next game proved otherwise as Kwara’s Dalex Royal College took on Adamawa’s Government Girls Secondary School.

It proved to be a thrilling contest but the Kwara state representatives ran out winners at the end of the day, winning 35-22.

More matches are expected to take place today in both the girls, as well as boys categories.

Commitment

In a related development, the sponsors of the annual championship which remains a high point in the country’s school sports calendar, Nestle Nigeria PLC, reaffirmed its commitment to the development of basketball in Nigeria, while also promising participants and spectators alike an exciting time at the national finals.

Speaking at the event, the company’s Business Manager (Beverages), Walter Okafor said that no expense has been spared to ensure a befitting national final in the usual Nestle Milo tradition.

Okafor said the closing ceremony of the tournament, billed for October 9 at the National Stadium, will feature not only the best of basketball, but also great entertainment from some of the best artists in the Nigerian music industry.

“We are most delighted that our efforts over the years have yielded positive results not only with the players and coaches but also with the administrators,” he said.

“The annual Nestle Milo basketball championship has not only ignited the interest of youth in the game but also raised the standard of play, officiating and performance by coaches and administrators.”

He then added: “We therefore wish to reiterate our firm commitment to keep up the standard of our sponsorship with a view to maintaining our set objectives.” According to the President, Nigeria School Sports Federation, Ibrahim Muhammad, over four thousand schools took part in the preliminary stage of this year’s championship.

Muhammad said that the annual Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship has gained massive recognition and acceptance, especially as it is a landmark event in the development of sports in the country with yearly participation by schools nationwide on the increase.