DFCC and HNB prove their prowess
DFCC Group ‘Blacks’ led by Prageeth Pushpakumara, with a clinical performance scored a convincing 65/50 win over HNB in the Men’s Final of the Mercantile Services Basketball Association League Tournament 2014, concluded under lights at the Otter Aquatic Club courts. In the 
Women’s ‘A’ division Final which preceded the men’s Final, defending Champions HNB, led by Dilani Fernando coasted to a comfortable 85/50 win over Commercial Credit & Finance PLC.
In the Men’s ‘A’ division Semi Finals, DFCC Group ‘Blacks’ beat Commercial Credit & Finance ‘A’ 59/56 and HNB beat Sampath Bank 69/54.
In the Final, DFCC Group ‘Blacks’ led the three quarters, 16/7, 23/22 and 44/36 before winning, with their crack shooters Prageeth Pushpakumara (17), Thimothi Niroshan (15) and Terrence Naydoff (22) scoring the bulk of the points.
Rashan Ruwanga (18), Roshan Fernando (10) and Amila Ratnayake (10) were the scorers for HNB.
The brilliant, robust, all court player, from DFCC Group ‘Blacks’, Thimothi Niroshan was adjudged as the Man-of-the-final and Man of the Tournament.
It was seven times in a row for the experienced HNB women, who had massive leads on the first three quarters, 14/5, 44/15, and 59/26 before winning.
HNB’s most experienced player, Kumarine Silva accounted for 40 points and the other contributor was former Captain Umanga de Zoysa (15).
Commercial Credit & Finance, making their debut in the league, scored through their captain, Sulochana Iddamalgoda (20) and Prasadi Fonseka (15).
HNB’s, Kumarine Silva was easily picked as the most outstanding player of the tournament.
36 Men’s teams in five divisions and eight Women’s teams in two divisions participated in the tournament, which commenced on September 29, 2014, containing 100 matches.
Former National Player, Sriya Cooray, Director, Pulser Shipping was the Chief Guest at the Finals. Sriya Cooray along with Nishantha Wickramage, Patron and former President, MSBA and Jayantha Karunaratne, President/MSBA gave away the awards.
Results of the rest of the divisions
Men’s ‘E’ division: Airport & Aviation Services and Mobitel were declared as Joint winners, as the Final was abandoned due to rain; Best Player – Susil Udukumbura from Airport Aviation Services.
Men’s ‘D’division: Nations Trust Bank ‘B’ beat Amana Group 65/62; Best Player Rukshan Fernando from NTB ‘B’
Men’s ‘C’ division: Commercial Credit & Finance ‘B’ beat NDB Bank 78/76; Best Player – Manaram Bandara from Commercial Credit & Finance ‘B’
Men’s ‘B’ Division: Dialog Axiata beat J. Keells Group 71/61; Best Player – Ravi Wickramasinghe from Dialog Axiata.
Women’s ‘B’ division : MAS Group and Seylan Bank were declared as joint winners, as the Final was abandoned due to rain; Best Player- Shanali Weerasuriya from MAS Group.
-LR