Day 3 of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup SABA Qualifier 2026 produced the most compelling basketball of the tournament so far. The Sugathadasa Indoor Sports Complex was at its electric best yesterday as three matches unfolded across the men’s and women’s categories. But it was the Sri Lanka vs India men’s clash that stole the show. In a match that swung one way and then the other, India summoned a defensive masterclass in the third quarter to turn the tide, before holding off a fierce Sri Lankan fightback to win 77-72. Bangladesh also registered their first victory of the campaign, while the Indian women continued their commanding march through the tournament.
Game 5 – FIBA U18 Asian Championship – SABA Qualifier 2026
Bangladesh vs Maldives
Bangladesh picked up their first win of the tournament in convincing fashion, overcoming the Maldives in a match that was briefly competitive before they took full control.
The Maldives made a bright start, edging ahead by four points in the early exchanges. However, a Maldives timeout proved to be the turning point. Bangladesh found their rhythm and never looked back, at one stage building a commanding 21-point advantage.
The Maldives struggled to maintain composure in possession throughout, with sloppy passing and a lack of discipline costing them dearly. They also gave away a string of fouls, handing Bangladesh a steady stream of free throws that kept the scoreboard ticking at a punishing rate. Bangladesh were relentless in capitalising on every opportunity and by half time had surpassed fifty points, heading into the break with a 33-point lead having posted 27 points in each of the opening two quarters. The second half was a formality, with Bangladesh never letting up and the Maldives unable to find any way back into the contest.
1st Quarter – BAN 27 – 10 MDV
2nd Quarter – BAN 54 (27) – 21 (11) MDV
3rd Quarter – BAN 80 (26) – 31 (10) MDV
4th Quarter – BAN 88 (8) – 48 (17) MDV
Final Score – Bangladesh 88 – 48 Maldives
Captain Karim was the standout performer, leading from the front with 23 points and 8 rebounds to claim a well-deserved Player of the Match award. It was a captain’s performance when his side needed it most.
Both sides meet again tomorrow (29th May) at 2 PM, this time with a 3rd place finish on the line.
Game 3 – FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship – SABA Qualifier 2026
India vs Maldives
India delivered a dominant display in the women’s category, steamrolling the Maldives in a performance that showcased the remarkable depth and quality of their squad from the first whistle to last.
India came out with great intensity, storming to a 29-point lead by the end of the first quarter and setting the tone for what was to follow. The second quarter was equally impressive where India rotated their entire roster through repeated substitutions, yet their quality never dropped. The Maldives managed just two points as India extended their advantage, a clear sign of how well drilled this Indian side is from top to bottom.
The third quarter continued in the same fashion, with India holding the Maldives to just three points a testament to how effectively their bench maintained the same defensive structure and intensity. The final quarter saw the Maldives produce their best period of the match, scoring 16 points more than double their combined tally from the first three quarters showing commendable spirit and fight despite the scoreline. India crossed the century mark to wrap up a commanding victory.
1st Quarter – IND 32 – 03 MDV
2nd Quarter – IND 52 (20) – 05 (02) MDV
3rd Quarter – IND 89 (37) – 08 (03) MDV
4th Quarter – IND 110 (21) – 24 (16) MDV
Final Score – India 110 – 24 Maldives
Amit Kulkarni earned the Player of the Match award for an outstanding all-round display, recording 15 points and 3 rebounds in just 17 minutes on the court. It was a performance that perfectly encapsulated India’s strength in depth.
India now turns it’s attention to tomorrow’s final (29th May) at 4:30 PM, where they face hosts Sri Lanka in what promises to be a blockbuster showdown.
Game 6 – FIBA U18 Asian Championship – SABA Qualifier 2026 Sri Lanka vs India
The most anticipated fixture of the tournament lived up to its billing. Both sides headed into the game unbeaten, having surpassed 100 points in each of their previous outings, making this a mouthwatering clash and a fitting dress rehearsal for Friday’s final.
The first quarter was a breathless, basket-for-basket affair. Sri Lanka led for most of the period and the intensity and tension was palpable throughout, with neither side willing to give an inch. The hosts edged ahead by a single point at the first break, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Sri Lanka carried that momentum into the second quarter, with captain Sudam Liyanage, Aaron Gerald, and Liam Thomas combining brilliantly to stretch the lead to 15 points. It looked as though the hosts might run away with it, but India is not a side that stays down for long. Captain Piyush Choudhary and Shekar Rathee steadily chipped away at the deficit, trimming it to just three points by half time.
The third quarter swung the game on its head. India produced a defensive masterclass, cutting off passing channels and forcing Sri Lanka into errors and hesitant play, holding them to just eight points while surging into a seven point lead. It was a remarkable turnaround that shifted the entire complexion of the contest.
Sri Lanka threatened a comeback in the fourth, with back-to-back baskets from Aaron Gerald and Sudam Liyanage pulling them to within two and sending the stadium into a frenzy. But Joypreet Singh outstanding at both ends of the floor steadied India at the crucial moment, before Rathee and Choudhary closed the game out with composure and class.
1st Quarter – SL 23 – 22 IND
2nd Quarter – SL 43 (20) – 40 (18) IND
3rd Quarter – SL 51 (08) – 58 (18) IND
4th Quarter – SL 72 (21) – 77 (19) IND
Final Score – Sri Lanka 72 – 77 India
Piyush Choudhary was the deserving Player of the Match with 16 points and 8 rebounds, leading with authority in the second half to see India over the line when it mattered most.
These two sides meet again tomorrow (29th May) at 7 PM local time. Will Sri Lanka exact revenge on home soil or will India remain unbeaten and claim the championship?
Stay tuned to Sri Lanka’s No. 1 sports channel for live coverage from the Sugathadasa Indoor Sports Complex throughout the FIBA U18 Asia Cup SABA Qualifier 2026.
