The final of the A division Mercantile Services Basketball Championship will be played on the 24th of April at the Hendry Pedris Complex. DFCC Bank will be taking on Nations Trust Bank which is expected to be a nail biter. A quick look at the two teams before the grand-finale.
Route to the final
DFCC Bank – DFCC Bank played their first match of the tournament vs. Sampath Bank. DFCC holding sway from the maiden whistle of the match thrashed the Sampath Bank outfit and won the game with a lead of twenty one points when the score board read 60-39 at full time. Advancing into the tournament semi-finals; the first semifinal of the tournament was played between DFCC vs. Commercial Credit. It was expected to be a nail biter but unfortunately it ended up as one sided game when DFCC advanced into tournament finals beating Commercial Credit 63-47.
Nations Trust Bank – NTB played their first match of the tournament against Dialog Axiata PLC after the match being postponed from the original date due to increment weather. NTB giving it all dominated the game from the word go and won the game by eight points when the score board read 64-56 at full time. The next game on the cards for the NTB outfit was the tournament semi-final. The second semi-final of the tournament was played between NTB and Avant Garde BC. Even though the luck was on Avant Garde BC`s side NTB was just too good to beat at the end. Playing some breath-taking minutes of basketball NTB advanced into the tournament finals beating Avant Garde BC 86-66.
Pros& Cons
Nations Trust Bank – NTB outfit is team that has the height advantage and good set of forward players. NTB will be up ahead in their offense as Clinton Thevakumar and Devon Rebert are in sublime form. Yet when the game comes back to the defense NTB lacks the fireworks. Even though Devon has pace in his offence he does not keep up with his opposite number in defense. Sidath Senananyake, the veteran post player who has been doing a fantastic job so far etching rebounds, will have to do so as there is no other fitting player to substitute him in the bench.
DFCC Bank – DFCC outfit is well experienced and possess good post players. The key factor within their team would be that even their forward players could contest themselves to the rebounds. Terrance Neydoff, Timothy Nithushan who have good reach will contest to the rebounds together with the post players and it will be something the NTB should watch out for. DFCC has a balanced offensive side with Timothy, Terrance being in good form so far in the tournament.
Opposite jersey rivalries
Prageeth Pushapkumara vs. Christi Krishanth
The battle between two experienced skippers; Prageeth will be leading the DFCC outfit while Christi is in-charge of the NTB outfit. Prageeth the experienced man is capable in playing himself in any position with his height and body structure. Chrsti; the opposition skipper filled with potential is player who will play his own game while making sure that he passes the ball around to create plays after plays for the rest of his colleagues to score. Playing in the starting line up as the point guard he has shown satisfactory signs in handling pressure situations and leading his side to victory.
Clinton Thevakumar vs. Timothy Nithushan
Clinton playing on the starting line-up for the Nations Trust Bank will be equally matched by Timothy Nithushan who will holding on the other end. Both the players are in sublime form maintaining a healthy shooting average of over eighty percent. They have both shown exceptional skills in handling pressure off tight game situations and are well known for their improvisations.Being silent assassins of the game one will never know how or when they will steal the game from the opposition. It will be a treat to watch as they battle for victory with height being the only difference between them.
Clash of the coaches; Ajith Kuruppu vs. Asanka Perera
Ajith Kuruppu; undoubtedly Sri Lanka`s number one coach will be in charge of the DFCC outfit and it will for sure relieve some pressure off the DFCC players. Nevertheless Asanka Perera who will in-charge of the NTB outfit is as experienced. While the players battle it out in the court for victory these two veterans will discreetly battle themselves with game-plans and strategies to revive lost glory.
