UPAC 2020: GIJ makes debut in tertiary basketball championship

The Ghana Institute of Journalism has been drawn in Zone 7 alongside Ghana Technology University College, Kings University College and the Islamic University College for its Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges (UPAC) Basketball Championship debut on April 4.

New entrants, GIJ, are among 32 tertiary institutions than were drawn into eight Zones for the 2020 edition of the UPAC Championship yesterday in Accra.

According to the organisers, Rite Sports Limited, the winners of the respective groups will progress to the finals which will be held between Friday, April 17-Saturday, April 18, 2020 at the University of Ghana Basketball court.

Pairings

Reigning champions and most successful team in the competition's history, University of Ghana (four titles) will open their title defence in Zone 8 against Central University College, Regent University College and Regional Maritime University on April 9 in Accra.

Accra Technical University, winners of the UPAC Basketball Championship in 2011 and 2015 will face Methodist University College, Ho Technical University and Valley View University in Zone 6 on April 2 in Accra.

The sole quarter-final slot in Zone 5 will be contested by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Christian Services University College, Garden City University College and hosts Kumasi Technical University on March 28 while Zone 4 pits Catholic University College, Kintampo College of Health and University of Energy and Natural Resources against hosts Sunyani Technical University.

In Zone 3 which commences March 21, University od Professional Studies, Accra will play host Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, KAAF University College and Pentecost University College while the Zone 2 contest on March 14 is between Takoradi Technical University, University of Education, Winneba, University of Mines and Technology and hosts University of Cape Coast.

Radford University College will be looking to cause a massive upset when they meet Koforidua Technical University, All Nationa University College and Wisconsin International University College in Zone 1 on March 7 at the Pope John Secondary School.

Finals

After the Zone stage, a total of eight games would be played to determine the four teams that will face-off in the semi-finals on April 17.

The semi-final games, third-place matches and final will be held on April 18.

The 2020 UPAC Basketball Championship is sponsored by MTN, CAL Bank and Decathlon.

Eligibility

In an interview on the sidelines of the launch of the Championship on Wednesday, the Chief Executive of Rite Sports, Yaw Sakyi said measures had been put in place to curb the use of unqualified players during the competition.

He said a Committee had been established to scrutinise the eligibility of all players who would be registered by the schools.

He warned that sanctions would be meted out to institutions that would try to cheat.