Mfantsipim and TI Amass handed tough ties in 2016 Sprite Ball finals

Holders Mfanstipim have been handed a tricky draw in the 2016 Sprite Ball finals in Accra.

The four-time champions have drawn old foes Koforidua Secondary Technical School (KSTS) as well as Mawuli Senior High and returnees Accra Academy in group A.

It promises to be fireworks at the El-Wak stadium as 16 boys and 10 girls schools get ready to slug it out in the famous basketball competition in Ghana.

Eastern regional powerhouse Pope John Senior High School are paired in group B alongside Takoradi-based St John’s School as well as Adisadel College and Prempeh College.

It appears an intriguing contest in group C with Ashanti regional giants Opoku Ware locked up in the same group with Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), hugely improved St Thomas Aquinas as well as new entrant Aggrey Memorial.

The final group in the boys division pits former champions Presec-Legon against debutant Kajebi-Asato as well as St Augustines College and Ghana Lebanon and Islamic School (GLISS).

The girls division has thrown up some fascinating games with champions TI Amass handed tough draw in their group.

The two-time champions must negotiate past highly-rated Accra Wesley Girls as well as Eastern regional representative Nkawkaw Girls in group B.

Two-time losing finalist Aggrey Memorial have been handed a relatively easy task in group as they will square off against St Mary’s and Shama Senior High.

Mfantsiman Girls –two-time bronze medalist are paired in group C alongside Tema Senior High, Kumasi Girls and Awudome Senior High.

The teams will arrive at the games village – the University of Ghana on Sunday January 3.

Players and officials will visit the West Hills Mall for photo and pop-corn session and also visit the Coca Cola Bottling Plant, located at Spintex, a suburb of Accra.

There will be a LIVE opening ceremony on TV3 on Monday evening (5-6pm) to set the ball rolling for the big showdown.

There will also be flag hoisting ceremony on Tuesday January 5, to pave way for the start of the three-day championship which runs from 5-7 January at the El-Wak Sports stadium.

The famous competition has gained massive inches in the Ghanaian press as it remains the biggest basketball event in Ghana with the country’s top-performers expected to go at each other.

FULL CLASIFIED DRAW

BOYS

GROUP A

Mfanstipim

Mawuli SHS

KSTS

Accra Academy

GROUP B

Pope John SHS

St John’s School

Adisadel College

Prempeh College

GROUP C

Opoku Ware

GSTS

Aggrey Memorial

St Thomas Aquinas

GROUP D

Presec-Legon

Kajebi-Asato

St Augustines

GLISS

GIRLS

GROUP A

Aggrey Memorial

St Mary’s

Shama SHS

GROUP B

TI Amass

Accra Wesley Girls

Nkawkaw SHS

GROUP C

Mfantsiman Girls

Tema SHS

Kumasi Girls SHS

Awudome SHS