ThePapare Basketball Championship (TPBC), setting the stage for the next generation of stars, will take center-stage in the Sri Lankan basketball fraternity for the second consecutive year allowing twenty-eight top notch schools to compete to become the elite stars of the school’s basketball arena.
TPBC 2016 – A Recap
Lyceum International School – Wattala (LISW) played in Group D last year. LISW broke into the quarterfinals but lost to S. Thomas’ College, although they had a good track record for the year after coming into the finals of the Inter-international School Tournament.
Key Players
Rashan Perera
Skipper Rashan Perera, playing in the center-position has also been a part of two national tours. He participated in the recently concluded 3×3 Asian Championships and was also part of the U18 Youth Team which toured (where?) last year. His talent in grabbing the rebounds and getting the second chances for the team in offense will help LISW keep the momentum in scoring and to exert pressure in the defense.
Nimesh Kulatunga
Nimesh Kulatunga was also part of the U18 Youth Team alongside skipper Rashan Perera. Apart from that, Kulatunga is a part of the 3×3 FIBA fast track program. Kulatunga plays in the point guard position. His control of the game and ensuring that the rest of the players are also a part of the offensive play will be vital to LISW’s success in every offensive possession. He also moves swiftly across the floor which will help in bringing fast breaks into the game.
The Team in a Nutshell
LISW has a well-balanced offense and defense which they can adapt according to the opponent, making them a very versatile team. The team prefers to score by penetrating the defense but it’s not that they aren’t comfortable taking long range shots. The team also consists of quite a few players over 6 feet tall, giving them a height advantage. Along with this, LISW doesn’t rotate their bench too often unless they absolutely have to, making maximum use of their key players to win the game.
After losing in the quarterfinals last year, LISW`s training schedule has been increased. They have been practicing 6 days a week both morning and evening, giving priority to power training. With players who have international experience in their ranks they will look to do better than they did last year.
Quotes
Skipper Rashan Perera, “We’ve been practicing a lot this year and so has our competition but we’re hoping to do a better job than last year and make it to the end, I believe that my team has the potential to win if we play properly.”
Head Coach Nerius Stanley, “According to the practicing we’ve done we should definitely be able to win this year, if we don’t it’s our bad luck on the day because this team according to their performance so far has what it takes to be the U19 champions.”
Photos – Lyceum International School – Wattala | Boys Basketball Team
Team Line Up
Rashan Perera (Captain), Nazly Ahmath, Nimesh Kulatunga, Sonal Warnakulasooriya, Pranil Perera, Tuwan Raed, Yasith Jayasundara, Vikash Nanayakara, Evangeloa Stephan, Nidul Dewapirya, Radeesha De Mel, Ludovico Wedithya , Suash Widanpathirana, Tenuel Tissera, Yesitha De Silva, Tuvin Kavitaarachchi , Jevisha Mirando, Shenon Silva, Amandika Costa.
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