With an outstanding performance throughout the game, AIS relegates Royal College to runners up by 19 points.
Asian International School took on Royal College in the finals of the under 19 zonal Basketball championships. Asian International School was off to an extremely powerful start limiting Royal College to only one basket for the whole first quarter. Julian Guansinghe was the only Royalists who could make to the ring, while Asian International School scored 17 points with ease. They were able to make use of three free throws in their spell. Taher Akbarrly at number 6 was outstanding scoring 7 baskets in total, adding to score in the first quarter itself. Dmitri and Bevan were among other contributors to the 17 points.
(First Quarter: Royal 02, Asian International School 17)
Royalists were at extreme pressure at the start of the second quarter. With more stress added from the supporters at their home courts, Visal Pinto, Ragu Rakavan and Gevin Gunathilaka also joined with Julian to score some crucial points. Yet the fouls and free throws always kept Asian International School ahead of the game. While Hasitha Perera of AIS was able to score two free throws with 100% accuracy, Anuke Ganagoda also scored on free throws easily. Asians were always able to maintain the lead. Though Taher found it rather difficult make it through the defenses and place himself in the circle, the combined effort of Dimitri and Hasitha had AIS well placed. The point gap increased from a 15 to 18 by the end of the second quarter.
(Second Quarter: Royal 12, Asian International School 30)
Under the circumstances the Royal coach was forced to make changes in his players and game plans. Though, the second quarter was a slow recovery, AIS was always ahead with a huge point margin. But in reality with pressure rising the Royalists were giving away fouls at the start of the quarter itself. Hasith Perera scored first with a free throw for AIS. Following him Praveen Gunathilaka with his first basket for the day added points. Meanwhile the Royalists were struggling and unable to get a breast for the required baskets, already falling behind by 20 points. Julian as seen before in the game was able to score two consecutive baskets but soon after Royal was once again trailing behind. Asian International School carried on with the continued baskets scoring 19 points while Royal College was stuck at 8.
(Third Quarter: Royal 20, Asian International School 49)
To catch up on 29 points the Royalists had to go for long shots. The first and the only three-pointer came from Julian in the last 5 minutes of the game. But many other attempts by Royal to gain a huge point advantage were unsuccessful. Yet they were able to score 18 points in the last quarter of the game. But this was not good enough to secure the Under 19 championship. AIS, were surprisingly stuck at 8 points in the last quarter, with numbers 9, 13, 6 and 5 were scoring a basket each adding up to 8 points in the last quarter. In the last quarter, AIS was lagging behind by 10 points, yet they were easily able to walk away as the champions with their huge score margin form previous quarters.
(Fourth Quarter: Royal 38, Asian International School 57)
The fight for semi-final birth was treacherous and long with the competition being battled over several days. The first semi-final was between arch rivals Royal and S Thomas, where the Royals easily victored by a margin of 13 points. Royal 54 to S Thomas 41.
Eventual champions Asian International School took on St Peters and removed the Petes from reaching the final in a clinical display to finish 81-52.
