Oyo State emerged winners of the 3rd Victor Ochei International Wheelchair Basketball Championship in Lagos over the weekend.
The Oluyole Warriors secured a 51-12 victory over their Edo State counterpart in the final match decided at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
Ghana and the Republic of Benin were among five teams from other parts of West Africa that took part in the five-day tourney.
Oyo won the first quarter 8-2 and stopped their opponents from recording a solitary point in the second quarter, which finished 5-0.
The score board read 13-2 at half-time as Oluyole Warriors recorded a massive 38 points in the last two quarters while Edo State could only manage to record 10 points in the loss.
Oyo State captain Musibau Shittu was adjudged the championship most valuable player (MVP). His team posted one of the highest scores of the championship, after it defeating Abia State by 95-03 points in a group-D tie, recording a hard-won battle against Delta State in the semi-final with a 24-19 points finish.
“We prepared very well for it and our team’s resolve is to carry the day,” Captain Shittu said. “We are grateful to our sponsors, especially our Grand Patron, Victor Ochei, the Oyo Sports Council and the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Umar Farouk-Arisekola.”
Edo State defeated Lagos State by 16-15 points in over-time in the other semi-final game last Friday.
Edo State thus remain one of the most improved team in the championship as it moved a step forward from it third place finish in 2013 to second this year.
Addressing the participants, Victor Ochei, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly and sponsor of the event said the event had gained international recognition over the years.
“The federation will be working towards participating in the 2016 Olympics.
“We have got the required international exposure having participated in various international championship and capacity building training,” he said.
“The level of athletes’ competence has increased from what it was in the last edition.
“With what I saw here today these athletes can match any good team anywhere in the world.”
