19th Royal-Thomian Basketball-Royal for sweet revenge or Thora to retain?

19th Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake Challenge Cup

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19th Royal-Thomian Basketball 2024

Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, will be hosted by Royal College, Colombo, on Friday (4th) at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex for the 19th Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake Challenge Cup annual basketball encounter. The Thomians come in as slight favorites, being the title holders, while the Royalists are eyeing sweet revenge, with their last win coming in 2022.

You can catch the live action from wherever you are in the world, or here at home in the island nation, on ThePapare. The all-important U-19 game is set to start at 5:30 p.m.

Who are the Team Leaders?

Thomas’ College – Yehan Bulathsinghalage (Captain), Naresh Ranjithkumar (Vice Captain)

 

Royal College – Navija Gamlath (Captain), Oshada Hettiarachchi (Vice Captain)

Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake Challenge Cup – Winners

Year                Winner

2003                STC

2004                STC

2005                STC

2006                STC

2007                STC

2008                STC

2009                STC

2010                RC

2011                RC

2012                RC

2013                RC

2014                RC

2015                STC

2016                Not played

2017                RC

2018                STC

2019                STC

2020                Not played

2021                Not played

2022                RC

2023                STC

Overall Tally –  11 (S.Thomas’) – 7 (Royal)

The inaugural Royal-Thomian Basketball encounter, played for the Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake Challenge Trophy, was held in 2003 with S. Thomas’ winning. The Thomians maintained a 6-year winning streak. Later, Royal bounced back to win five in a row with 2010 being their first win in the series. The game was not held in 2016, 2020, and 2021. After 18 encounters, the overall tally stands at 11 wins for S. Thomas’ College and 7 wins for Royal College.

Here’s a look back at the 18th Encounter held last year (2023)

Under-19 : Thomians led by skipper Thishan Perera and his deputy double coloursman in rugby and basketball Yehan ‘Bula’ Bulathsinghalage helped regain the Cup by defeating archrivals Royal 71-54 at the Sri Lanka Air Force Indoor Basketball Complex.

Final score-card : 1st   2nd   3rd  4th   Total

Thomas’              19    18     19     15     71

Royal                   16    10     10    18     54

Under-17 : S. Thomas’ beat Royal 62-61

Old boys : Old Royalists beat Old Thomians 47-39

 

Under-17 special awards – 2023

  • Best Defensive Player – Ashel Ambawatte (Royal)
  • Best Offensive Player – K.A. Ramanayake (STC)
  • Most Valuable Player – Nathan Fernando (STC)

Under-20 special awards – 2023

  • Best Defensive Player – Dulina de Silva (RC)
  • Best Offensive Player – Jaden Rodrigo (STC)
  • Most Valuable Player – Yehan Bulathsinghalage (STC)

This year’s encounter is expected to be a fierce battle with Royal fighting for lost glory and S. Thomas’ in a battle to prove themselves as worthy title holders. It’s game on!

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