By Silvernews
Enugu State emerged champions of the South-East Invitational Basketball Tournament after staging a remarkable comeback to defeat hosts Ebonyi State 45-42 in a thrilling final played at the newly commissioned Richard Idike Basketball Court, Ebonyi Mall, Abakaliki.
The victory capped a successful campaign for the Coal City side in the three-day championship organized by the South-East Basketball Association, which attracted some of the region’s finest talents and served as a talent identification platform for future opportunities with the Coal City Blazers.
Trailing for much of the final, Enugu displayed resilience and composure in the closing stages to overturn the deficit and secure the title before an enthusiastic crowd that witnessed one of the most exciting games of the competition.
Earlier, Imo State defeated Anambra State 38-35 to finish third, underlining the growing competitiveness and improving standard of basketball across the South-East.
Enugu coach, Olumide Austin, hailed the tournament as a major boost for basketball development in the region, stressing that the competition provided a valuable avenue for discovering and nurturing young talents.
His Imo State counterpart, Victor Oguguo, also praised the initiative, noting that regular competitions remain vital for the growth of the game and the exposure of emerging players to higher levels of competition.
The coaches and players reserved special commendation for the South-East representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Chief Ugo Udezue, for constructing the Richard Idike Basketball Court, which hosted the tournament.
They described the facility as a landmark project for basketball development in Ebonyi State and the South-East, expressing confidence that it would provide a conducive environment for training, competitions and talent discovery while encouraging more youths to embrace the sport.
SEBA MEDIA
