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Akosombo International School (AIS) emerged winners of the 2009 Eastern Regional Sprite Ball Championship held last Saturday at Koforidua. The 'Blues' as AIS are called unseated the basketball giants of the Region, Suhum Secondary Technical School (SUTESCO) in a superb fashion after they had won all their matches in the preliminary round. In all 16 High Schools who qualified from their various zones participated. Pre-tournament favourites Pope John Senior High (POJOSS) after an impressive showing in their first two games were denied the ultimate after AIS beat them with a close save 11-10 score line. In the semi-final duels, Koforidua Secondary Technical School (KSTS) despite losing to POJOSS 15-5 were absolutely sensational, thanks to the ball handling techniques of their captain Emmanuel Amoako Ekow who also doubles as their point guard. KSTS took the third position after beating rivals SUTESCO to book a place in the grand finale slated for 19th and 20th of December in Accra. In the girls' category, new entrants Nkawkaw Senior High (KAWSEC) surprised the teaming fans when they outplayed and outclassed their contenders to lift the trophy. KAWSEC showed sublime piece of basketball artistry, quick and fast inter-positional passes coupled with excellent finish to beat the defending champions AIS. Aburi Girls (ABUGIS) emerged third after tearing apart the defence of the Manfe-based Methodist Girls High School. In all six schools from both the boys and girls category have thus qualified to represent the Eastern Region in the grand finale to be staged in Accra come Saturday, December 19 to Sunday, December 20 at the El-Wak Stadium. The qualified schools are AIS, POJOSS, KSTS in the boys' category with KAWSEC, AIS and ABUGIS in the girls' category. The next stop of the competition is the Ashanti Region where thirty (30) High Schools will be competing. Sprite Ball Championship 2009 is brought to you by Sprite company and co-sponsored by Indomie Noodles, EFPAC and Latex Foam with support from Ink it, TV Africa, Joy FM, 90 minutes Newspaper, Ghana News Agency (Sports Desk), Rock FM and Radio Xtacy. The championship is been produced by Rite Multimedia, leaders in Basketball Development in Ghana.