The men`s A division final of the 10th Mercantile Services Basketball knockout Championship was played yesterday at the Hendry Pedris Basketball Complex between DFCC Bank and Nations Trust Bank. DFCC rolled out for 62-52 victory after a nail biter at full time.
The game was originally scheduled to play on the 24th Friday, yet the weather gods decided the match to be postponed. The match commenced sharp at half past six with the traditional jump ball start. DFCC having first possession drew first blood early on. NTB squared the game right after in the next possession and said game on. Both the sides were equally matched with talent, skill and height which made the game a clash of the titans. NTB opted for a man-to-man defense upfront in the game as the forwards of the DFCC bank were in sublime form. Experienced campaigner Prageeth Pushapukamara ordered the DFCC boys to stick to a sagging-man-to-man defense as they covered their territory quite well. The only difference that was significant in the maiden quarter was that only the post players went into rebounds while from the other end all the five players contested for it. Even though it was the only difference it was more than enough to help DFCC to lead the quarter 15-11.
The second quarter commenced with a four point DFCC lead and they did well to hold onto it until the end. Even though the defensive rebounds did fall in safe hands of the NTB post players; offensive rebounds did not. DFCC capitalizing on that mistake ran a couple fast breaks in quick succession which changed the hands of the game. The man-to-man defense by the NTB was a bit shaky during the second quarter as the DFCC players started improvising in the offense. It was just simple play of passing the ball around and creating hesitation in the defenders mind and DFCC maneuvered it well. They scored eleven points in the quarter while NTB managed ten points. DFCC held on to the momentum that they got into during the first quarter and penetrated into the defense line, while NTB held on to their offense through random shots here and there.
Half time – Nations Trust Bank – 21 DFCC Bank – 26
The crucial third quarter was opened with a bang from the NTB skipper Chirsti as he shot a three pointer from the arc. Both the teams showed signs of being aggressive in both defense and offense after the ten minute break. It is hard and unfair to point out a certain team’s mistakes as both the teams were playing good minutes and the mistakes remained as unforced errors. Sidath Senannayake utilizing his height played brilliant minutes in both offense and defense as he squared the game a couple of times for the NTB outfit. DFCC shifted their strategies from man-to-man to sagging defense and tried to keep Clinton and Devon away from the basket as much as possible. Yet the point guard of NTB doing a fabulous job, held control of the game as he passed and created lapses in the defense for his scorers to tap in. The top scores in the quarter were Sidath Senanayake who scored eleven points for NTB and Mohammed Fawshan scored five points to DFCC. Both the teams playing their full potential called off the third quarter when they had same figures on the score-board- 43 all.
The final six hundred seconds commenced and it was anyone`s game to take back home. Both the teams keeping consistent momentum scored one after the other. With 7:36 minutes to run down in the quarter, scoreboard read the same figures. It was a matter of three quick successions of scoring and defensing the rest. Timothy Niuthushan doing exactly the same scored fourteen points and ten assists which made the difference. While he scored he made sure the rest of the players score their points too, hence it was an overall balanced offense performance from the DFCC outfit. If there was solid support to Sidath at the post NTB still had the chance of winning the game. Even though NTB played brilliant minutes of basketball the experienced DFCC outfit was a bit too far to reach at full time.
DFCC skipper Prageeth Pushapakumara sharing his thoughts with ThePapare.com said “It was a tough game and NTB had it in their hands till the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. It was a matter of two quick successions and good defense and we did the exact thing and nothing else”.
Full time – Nations Trust Bank – 52 DFCC Bank – 62
