Basketball: KNUST, K. Poly qualify for UPAC champs

City rivals Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Kumasi Polytechnic booked their place for the 2015 Universities Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship when the former became the run away victors in the final match against Kumasi Polytechnic with 43-27 points in a decisive qualifier.

KNUST and Kumasi Poly were expected to compete with two other tertiary institutions for the two slots to represent the Ashanti Region for the competition which will be played on April 25, 2015 at the El Wak Stadium.

Christian Service University College, which was the fourth team, however, pulled out at the eleventh hour, leaving Garden City University College (GCUC) as the third institution.

KNUST and Kumasi Poly lived up to their pre-tournament hype by brushing aside the feeble challenge of GCUC in their respective opening fixtures to qualify for the final.

KNUST's Ekow Emmanuel Amoako, a former captain of Koforidua Secondary Technical School basketball team,’ produced another sterling display against Kumasi Poly in the final match as the home-side cruised to a comfortable win.

Kumasi Poly's qualification leaves their experienced trainer, Emmanuel Wobil, who also doubles as the coach of the already qualified University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) with a tough choice to make since he could possibly switch to KNUST.

The Central regional qualifiers of the 2015 UPAC Championships, however, continues this Saturday with the hosts University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Polytechnic, Takoradi Polytechnic and University of Education, Winneba vying for honours.

The 2015 UPAC Basketball Championship is sponsored by Dynamite Energy Drink and supported by Access Bank, EV Oil, Premier Cool, Airtel Ghana and Everpure.