The ‘A’ division women`s final of the Mercantile Basketball Tournament 2014 was held between HNB and Commercial Credit at Otters Aquatic Club basketball courts yesterday.
HNB stepping in as the favorites with the experience of six former championship victories added a plus one to their list when they beat Commercial Credit by a handsome thirty-five point margin when the scoreboard read 50-85 at full time.
The first phase of the game commenced when HNB gained possession after tapping the jump ball but they lost the ball over a mistimed shot and was rebounded by the opponents which was converted into points by Rajapakse. Commercial credit stepping into the game as under dogs tried to settle their nerves which they never could do until the final whistle blew. The height advantage of the game was clearly witnessed as over 90% of the rebounds were grabbed by the HNB outfit which paved them the way for a better offence. Offensive rebounds were converted into points within a blink of an eye and the defense of the Commercial credit had nothing but just to be spectators when the quarter ended with a solid nine point HNB lead.
The defending champions took the courtesy of ticking the score board for the second quarter and maintained a ten zero run for four minutes when the score board read 5-24 when a time out was called by Commercial credit. Rajapakse ended the ten zero run and scored a free throw right after the time out to help drive some momentum into the blood of Commercial credit. Changing their strategies they shifted from man-to-man defense to a full court defense but the experience campaigners from HNB took it as a mild challenge they have to cross. Long passes across the ends by HNB scattered the full-court defense and it helped HNB to increase their lead in the game as Commercial credit was slow in transition from defense to offense and vice versa. Rupika Wikramasooriya from HNB controlled the game in her hands passing the ball around feeding all the five players in the court. The game was halted for lemons when HNB had a comfortable thirty two lead.
(Half Time – Commercial Credit – 12 HNB – 44)
Rupika Wikramasooriya started troubling the scorers when she swished a shot from downtown early on the start of the second phase of the game. Height advantage coming into play, the two post players of HNB Fernando and Silva tapped and blocked most of the shots made by Commercial Credit. It was always a question as to why commercial credit did not settle down for set shots rather than penetrating and getting blocked. It was commendable piece of defense by the defending champions when they made sure they only blocked the shot and not to give away any fouls. Commercial Credit started to find some what of lost momentum when they swished the nets a couple of times to reduce the deficit. But the early lead that HNB gained helped them to live off the game without pressure. The third quarter ended when the score board read 26-59 which still left commercial credit trailing.
The crucial and the final ten minutes of the game commenced with the Commercial Credit outfit ticking the scoreboard at the start of the quarter. Finally, the lost momentum seemed to find its way through but the time was not in favor of the Commercial ladies. Skipper Iddamalgoda played good minutes for the Commercial Credit team but she lacked the support of the rest of the team mates which was the major factor which differentiated the two teams other than height and experience. With five minutes to go in the clock the score board read 79-34 HNB leading. Within the next five minutes of the game HNB scored nineteen points and gave away sixteen points which was most scoring period of the entire game. Both Silva and skipper Fernando had good rebounding minutes for HNB which made them lay their hands on the championship for the seventh consecutive time when the final whistle blew and they lead the game by thirty five solid points.
(Full time – Commercial Credit – 50 HNB – 85)
