Accra Poly emerge champs

Accra Polytechnic emerged champions of Zone F in the 2016 Rexona Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship by beating debutantes Blue Crest College 27-23 in the last round of preliminary games held last Friday in Accra.

The hosts and defending champions, Accra Poly, cruised through their opening two games with a 54-29 win over Valley View University and a 44-33 victory over Zenith College before seeing off a spirited challenge from underdogs, Blue Crest, in the final tie.

Accra Poly's three victories preserved their impressive unbeaten home run. 

However, it was the debutantes in the zone that gave Accra Poly their toughest test at home as they matched the two-time champions for three quarters with the likes of Kofi Otu and Cecil Arthur proving a handful for their experienced opponents.

The frustration of Accra Polytechnic players was visible and it boiled over when the nation's Most Valuable Player, Abdul Mutaleeb Alhassan, got ejected from the game for persistent fouls with his side trailing 8-11 in the first quarter. 

In the end, Accra Polytechnic’s more experienced coach, Brimah Lawal, who was very animated on the sidelines, as well as a vociferous crowd cheered a tiring team to victory. Accra Poly will now represent Zone F in the quarterfinals of the Rexona UPAC Championship slated for April 14 at the University of Ghana.

Accra Poly’s starting centre, Suleman Alhassan, was also voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament; ending the streak of Point Guard’s winning the coveted award.