SpriteBall 2020: KETABUSCO stuns Mfantsipim, Shama SHS lifts lady’s trophy

The skipper of the basketball team of Mfantsipim Senior High School, Gabriel Hammond has admitted his underrated Keta Business School in the men’s final of the 2020 edition Sprite Ball Championship.

The Cape-Coast based school were pundits’ pick to lift the golden trophy having made it to the final on the back of exceptional display in the early rounds.

It was expected that ‘Botwe Boys’ were going to add a sixth trophy to their cabinet and establish themselves as the ‘kings’ of High School boxing however a far more superior display by KetaBusco ensured that the trophy travelled to the Volta Region for the second since the institution of the competition.

Bar the first quarter that Mfantsipim took initiative and worked the defense lines of KetaBusco, it was a dominant display by the KetaBusco who with the leadership of the eventual MVP winner Gidisu Prince showed power, style and dynamism to silence the crowd, most of whom were supporters and admirers of Mfantsipim SHS.

In the last quarter, Mfantsipim attempted a comeback but KetaBusco held their nerve to end the game with a 48 against 40 score line.

Gabriel Hammond told the press that his side paid for their decision to underrate a side that beat them in the group stages.

“I underestimated them and it went against me. Most of my mates also underestimated them especially the first five and we paid for it. Last year we had a lot of experience players but the situation was different this year but we will bounce back”, he said.

The coach of the Keta Business School basketball team, Senyo Ashiagbor said the victory was a revenge for the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Mfantsipim last year.

“We were fully prepared so I was very we were going to win. We met them in the group stage last year and they humiliated us so we went back, did our homework and then came back. It was a tough game but we played very hard. I also think that they underrated us but we surprised them”, he said”.

In the ladies division, St Louis SHS paid for their profligacy as Shama SHS rallied from behind to lift the trophy.

An efficient Shama SHS recorded a close 15-14 victory of their Kumasi counterpart to win the ladies category.

Shama SHS coach George Hanson was awarded Coach of the Tournament for steering his side to victory while the MVP of the female division went Gifty Nkrumah of Shama SHS

The Market Execution Manager of Coca Cola who are headline sponsores of the games said “Sprite has been part of this event for years and we will continue to be part of it. The brand is excited about the passion of the youth and basketball being one of the passions of the Ghanaian youth, we will always want to continue to support the development of that sport.

The CEO of Rite Sports, Yaw Sakyi expressed gratitude to the sponsors, schools and other key partners who contributed to the successful staging of the tournament.