Sri Lanka commenced their hunt for the U18 3×3 Asia Championship title today in Malaysia. Both the Sri Lanka men`s and women`s team will play two matches in the group stage.

Game 01: Sri Lanka v Kyrgyzstan (Men)

Sri Lanka commenced the game with the first possession but failed to convert it to points. It was the opponents who drew first blood and led the game 02-00. Rashan Perera made amends for the missed possession as he got the party started for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka looked a bit unsettled at the start as they failed to convert possessions into points and lacked cordination among the players. Kyrgyzstan on the other hand kept building their score and led the game by a couple of points. But with six and half minutes remaining Sri Lanka came back to the game and squared the score card 06 all.

Sri Lanka building up momentum, rectified their mistakes and went on to lead the game 17-10. Shivanga De Silva stepping on the gas penetrated and tested the opposing defense. However, Kyrgyzstan made sure that the win didn’t come easy for Sri Lanka as they cut down the deficit to just a point with seconds remaining on the clock. Scores read 17-18.

Shivanga De Silva driving in, shot through and drew a foul which created and-one situation. Even though the free-throw was missed by De Silva the point helped the lads breathe. Shivanga De Silva added another point in the dying seconds as the game ended in the favor of Sri Lanka 20-17.

Full Time: Sri Lanka – 20 Kyrgyzstan – 17


Game 02: Sri Lanka v Kazakhstan (Women)

Sri Lanka commenced the game with the first possession and Taniya Perera converted it into points and drew first blood. Even though Kazakhstan missed out on a good start they came back and led the game 08-02 with 06 minutes remaining in the clock.  

The defense from Kazakhstan was on point as they closed the driving lanes and made sure that they transferred the pressure back to Sri Lanka. Yet Sri Lanka scoring in back to back possessions cut down the deficit to just a point with 03:56 minutes remaining. Scores read 09-08.

Hazeena Abdul`s back to back two pointers put Sri Lanka back in the lead 13-10. Yet the opponents adapted quickly into a fast paced game and squared the game 13 all with a minute remaining on the clock.

Hazeena Abdul’s magic in the dying seconds once again did the magic for Sri-Lanka as she went on to swish the nets for another two pointer as Sri Lanka won the first game 15-13.

Full Time: Sri Lanka – 15 Kazakhstan – 13


Game 03: Sri Lanka v Japan (Men)

Sri Lanka took on the Asian heavyweights Japan in a tight contest in their 2nd game of the day. Sri Lanka had first possession but failed to score. Both the teams were equal in talent but Sri Lanka had the advantage on the height factor. The game was tight and the scores were level on six occasions.

The scoreboard read 5 all with 06:54 mins remaining and then went on to be 09 all with 4:32 mins remaining. Then the score board was once again squared 11 all with 03 minutes remaining on the clock. Both teams were scoring with quick possessions as they went on to equal the scores at 13 all with less than a couple of minutes remaining. The game was again equal 14 all and 15 all with seconds remaining to the final whistle.

Sri Lanka were on the top of the rebounding factor with the height advantage and both Arnold Brent and Shivanga De Silva played good minutes as they penetrated in and swished the nets at ease.  

It was the free-throws of Rukshan Atapattu that made the difference in the game as Sri Lanka finished on top to remain unbeaten in the tournament.  

Full Time: Sri Lanka – 16 Japan – 15


Game 04: Sri Lanka v Malaysia (Women)

Sri Lanka took on Malaysia in the final game for the day. Sri Lanka seemed to have had lost their form from the previous match. It was Malaysia that scored first but Hazeena Abdul made amends in the next possession as she drew first blood for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka seemed to have had lost the plot in rebounds and Malaysia made sure they kept the pressure on the Sri Lankans by tightening the screws in defense. Malaysia went on a scoring rampage as the the score depicted 10-04 with five minutes remaining in the game.

Sri Lanka were not able to cut down the deficit as their possessions were halted by the opposing team. Malaysia were on top of offense and defense while they also made sure they got the best of the second chance points.

It was a nightmare game for Sri Lanka as the score board read 10-18 at the full time whistle.

Full Time: Sri Lanka – 10 Malaysia – 18    

Both Sri Lankan men`s and women`s team qualified for the quarter-final round which will be played on the 27th of May 2017 in Malaysia.