The SABA 3×3 zone qualifier for the 3×3 World Tour was held during the weekend at the Gateway College, Basketball complex. Team India winning the championship qualified themselves to participate in Asian Championships to be held in China.
With the participation of India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, the championship commenced on Saturday. Since Sri Lanka is hosting the tournament, Sri Lanka was eligible to register four teams for the championship.
The preliminary rounds were played on the first day and the first match was played between the Colombo Bulls vs Team Maldives. Colombo Bulls won the match comprehensively 10-08.
Sri Lanka Reds beat Team India which was the first time in history that a Sri Lankan team has beaten the neighbors. Sri Lanka Reds scored twenty one points in full time and beat Team India who only managed to score fourteen points. Asanka Suwaris, Sameera Chanaka, Gayan De Cross and Timothy Nitushan played valuable points to place themselves at the semi-finals of the championship.
The first semi-final was played between Sri Lanka Blacks and Team India. Praneeth Udumalagala was way off target during the match hence the pressure was transferred equally to Roshan Randima and Mithila Abeysekara who did not handle it too well. Team India scored nineteen points at full time while Sri Lanka used scored only ten points.
The second semi-final was played between Sri Lanka Reds and Sri Lanka Whites. Sameera Chanaka who was in sublime form did most of the scoring as Asanka Suwaris and Gayan De Cross made no mistake in etching the rebounds. Sri Lanka Reds scored twenty one points at full time while Sri Lanka Whites managed only eleven points. Sri Lanka Reds booked the place in the final of against Team India.
India`s Vengeance
The final was predicted to be a nail-biter since both the teams met themselves earlier in the championship and Sri Lanka Reds beat Team India comprehensively.
Asanaka Suwaris won the toss and had the first possession but failed to get the party started. Team India capitalizing on the first possession itself drew first blood. Even though Sri Lanka Reds did have the psychological advantage, the extra bit of pressure in playing a final affected them. It was clearly witnessed as the local lads missed a fair amount of rebounds which could have changed the game. Even though Sameera Chanaka did continue his form into the finals he lacked support from the senor campaigners.
Team India on the other hand etched rebounds and they always did have a second chance at the hoop. They shot twenty one points at full time and won the game as Sri Lanka only managed to score fifteen points. Team India qualified themselves to participate in the Asian Tour to be held in China in two weeks’ time.
