The first semi-final of the fiftieth senior national basketball championships were played yesterday between Mercantile Services BC vs. Colombo District BC at Hendry Pedris Basketball Complex.
Colombo District who got off to a brilliant start lost their cause towards the end and walked away in despair when the final scoreboard read in favor of Colombo District BC 72-50.
Both the teams were equal in skill but the mercantile lads having the height advantage won the traditional jump ball and had early possession. Though they failed to connect the shot, they drew an early foul through penetrating the defense and that gave the chance to open the party with a free throw. Just after the free-throw during the next possession, the Colombo lads squared the score-board when they swished the nets with a mid-range jumper. It was a bad day in office for the Colombo players as they missed rebounds but they were in the game as their offence was tight and the defense of the mercantile lads was a bit shaky. Even though the offence was tight from the Colombo lads the shifting from offence to defense was rather slow which gave the upper hand for the opposition for fast breaks and with 2.22 minutes to run down in the clock mercantile lead the quarter 13-10. Srinath and Jared being skilled in their ball controlling scored back to back points which reduced the deficit into two points for the Colombo lads at the end of the first quarter.
Mercantile Services BC started off the second ten minutes of with a two point lead but the Colombo lads squared the game scoring off a basic pick and roll play. Yet with Gayan Croos and Sudesh Pavia going so well for the Mercantile outfit the shaky offense of the opposition could not stand still but to leak points when they lead the game seven points with 4.22 minutes to run down. Even though Srinath was continuing his form for the Colombo lads he lacked support from the post players and hence the possessions wasn’t converted into points. Sudesh Paiva being a brilliant post player blocked and rebounded and scored off turnovers which was one factor where Mercantile Services BC outran the Colombo District BC. With the Mercantile lads maintaining a healthy lead of eight points the game halted for lemons.
Half Time – Mercantile Services BC (35) Colombo District BC (27)
Gayan Croos started off the second phase of the game shooting off a baseline layup and increased the lead for the Mercantile Services BC. Colombo BC lacking the momentum in rebounding was
The final ten minutes of the game commenced and the body language of the Colombo District BC was not on positive notes. They started attacking the front court as they had Srinath in sublime touch. But since he did not have any support at the back end all those possessions were turned over by the Mercantile Services BC and ended scoring off them. Three quick fast breaks from Gayan Croos took the game away from the Colombo lads as nothing on court was on their side. The wonderful job done by the forwards just floated away as rebounds started lacking which was an issue they were facing from the beginning of the match. Tired limbs of Srinath had him lagging behind a tad and the scoreboard stopped ticking for them.in trouble as Gayan Croos and Sudesh Paiva settled themselves down scoring possession after possession. Colombo District BC shifted from sagging man to man defense to a full court defense strategy which paused the leaking of the points up to a certain extent but since offensive and defensive rebounds didn’t come handy, they were converted into points by the Mercantile lads which was the factor which gave them the upper hand in this quarter. Srinath playing his own game for the Colombo lads went on scoring off mid-range jumpers which was the only thing that helped Colombo stay alive in the game. The third quarter ended when the scoreboard read 50-44 Mercantile lads on lead.
Full time – Mercantile Services BC – (72) Colombo District BC – (50)
