The sixth edition of the Herbert Cup kicked off on Friday in Batticaloa. Three matches were played on day one and Sri Lanka Police BC, Sri Lanka Air Force BC and Jaffna DBA won their respective games.
The chronicle of the Herbert Cup
From Louisiana to Ceylon, Rev.Fr. Eugene Herbert SJ has rendered an immeasurable service to the sport of basketball in the Island…
Sri Lanka Police BC v Mutwal BC
Sri Lanka Police BC got on to a decent start and led the game by six points to two inside the first two minutes of the first quarter. Yet, Mutwal BC bouncing back into the game squared the score board in the fifth minute of the maiden quarter. Banking on the decent start the cops kept on the momentum and swapped the lead back as the final scores read 17-14 at the end of the first ten minutes.
Even though Mutwal BC scored five quick points and stepped up ahead at the start of the second quarter they were unable to maintain the momentum and Police BC were back on the lead after trailing the game 17-19.
Krishan Chamara went on to score twelve points for the cops inside the second quarter while Anushka Dilan scored eleven points for Mutwal BC. First half ended in favour of Police BC as they enjoyed a four-point lead. Scoreboard read 30-26.
Police BC dominated the third quarter from the start as they scored nine points inside the first five minutes and only managed to leak a couple of points from their defensive end. Mutwal BC was completely on the wrong foot and the experience campaigners, Police BC went on to lead the game 50-38 at the end of the third quarter.
Even though Mutwal BC revamped their strategies Police BC were able keep the lead in place. Mutwal BC closed the deficit and came close to diminishing the lead but they were unable to close down the gap. Police BC stamped their authority as they won the game when the final scores read 69-57.
Coach of Sri Lanka Police BC Buddhika Kumudapperuma speaking with ThePapare.com after the match said “There are five new players in our team this time, they did contribute well to today`s victory. Let`s see how we can use them more for the upcoming matches”.
Rex Clementine, coach of Mutwal BC speaking with ThePapare.com after the match said, “We are happy with our performance as a team but I think we will have to look back at the way we played during the third quarter. Missing ten free throws in the final quarter was a huge blow for us. So we will have to rectify such mistakes and move ahead”.
Batticaloa Red v Jaffna DBA
Jaffna lads dominated the game from the tapping of the traditional jump ball. Harshan set the scoreboard 7-0 in favor of the Jaffna lads. Even though the hosts Batticaloa Red`s did adapt into the fast paced game they were unable to convert them into points which eventually led them to trail the game 15-31 at the end of the first half.
Batticaloa Reds only managed to score twenty-one points during the second half of the game while the opponents went on to score another thirty-one points. Harshan took care of the offence for the Jaffna lads while Venujan made sure the defence was tight.
The final scoreboard read 62-36 as Jaffna District Basketball Association won the second game.
Sri Lanka Air Force BC v Batticaloa Blue
Sri Lanka Air Force BC coming into the tournament as the favourites after their emphatic win in the 51st Senior Nationals Tournament secured the winning position with ease. It was a game filled with a lot of interest as the MVP of the Senior Nationals Tournament, Sri Lanka Air Force BC player Anthony Venito was a part of the Batticaloa team earlier.
Airmen commencing proceedings fashionably led the game 21-12 at the end of the maiden quarter. The constant momentum in scoring helped them to add another fifteen points during the second quarter of the game. Batticaloa Blue only managed to score a couple of points during the second quarter.
Half time score board read 36-14.
Coming into the third quarter, Sri Lanka Air Force BC were on top as they went on to add another eight points while conceding four points to the opposition. Skipper Ravi Dodangoda and Anothny Venito led the game up-front.
There was no difference in the game as they went onto play the final quarter. The heavy artillery attack of the Airmen completely diminished the Batticaloa lads. Final scores read in favour of Sri Lanka Air Force BC 50-23.
Susil Udukumbura, coach of Sri Lanka Air Force speaking with ThePapare.com after the match said,”We were able to get on to a good start for the tournament. Most of the players who represented Batticaloa were players who are still schooling. We are hoping to win the championship and take it back to Colombo”.
