Ugo Udezue acclaimed as Enugu crowned South East basketball champion in Ebonyi

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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 new Richard Idike Basketball Court, Ebonyi Mall, Abakaliki.

The victory capped a successful campaign for the Coal City team in the three-day championship hosted by the South-East Basketball Association, which attracted some of the region’s top talent and served as a talent identification platform for future opportunities with the Coal City Blazers.

Trailing for much of the final, Enugu showed resilience and composure in the closing stages to overturn the deficit and secure the title in front of an enthusiastic crowd who witnessed one of the most exciting matches of the competition.

Earlier, Imo State defeated Anambra State 38-35 to finish third, underscoring the growing competitiveness and improving standard of basketball in the South East.

Enugu coach, Olumide Austin, hailed the tournament as a great boost to the development of basketball in the region, stressing that the competition provided a valuable avenue to discover and nurture young talent.

His Imo State counterpart, Victor Oguguo, also lauded the initiative, stressing that regular competitions remain vital to the growth of the game and exposure of emerging players to higher levels of competition.

The coaches and players reserved special praise for the South East representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Chief Ugo Udezue, for the construction of the Richard Idike Basketball Court, which hosted the tournament.

They described the facility as a landmark project for the development of basketball 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 MEDIUM