Manjula leads Old Antonians to victory
A valiant all court performance by skipper, Manjula Jayaratne gave old Antonians, Wattala a handsome 36/22 win over Old Devans, Kurunegala, in the Final of the Masters Basketball Sri Lanka, Inaugural Schools Old Boys Tournament 2014 Over-35, five-a-side Tournament, concluded under lights at the MCA Courts last Sunday.
Old Sokians, Ambalangoda superbly led by 54-year-old, Lalith de Silva won the Men’s Over-45 Final, beating the fancied, Old Sebastianites, Moratuwa, 16/12.
Action at the Inaugural Schools Old Boys Tournament. Pic by Anuradha Bandara
In the Mens Over-55 final, Old Peterites, Bambalapitiya led by Nimal Jayasuriya, snatched a 6/4 win over the Old Royalists, Colombo. The Old Royalists led 4/2 at the breather.
In the Women’s Over-28 Final, Old Paulians, Milagiriya coasted to a comfortable 20/8 win over Old Presbitarians, Dehiwela.
Men’s Over-35: Semi-Finals, Old Devans, Kurunegala beat Old Senanayakians, Colombo 19/15 (the Old Senanayakians led 6/3 at half time); Old Antonians, Wattala beat the Old Bens, Kotahena 28/23 (after leading 10/7 at halftime.);
Final: Old Antonians, Wattala beat Old Devans, Kurunegala 36/22. Old Antonians, Wattalaled 21/11 at half time; the match winning shooters were skipper, Manjula Jayaratne (16 points) and Maxwell Saranapala (10 points); Nalaka Kumarasinghe (10 points) played their hearts out for the Wattala team.
Manjula Jayaratne from Old Antonians, Wattala was adjudged as the most outstanding player of the tournament.
Mens Over-45
Semi-finals: Old Sokians, Ambalangoda beat the Old Peterites, Bambalapitiya, 18/13 (after leading 15/9 at half time), and Old Sebastianites, Moratuwa beat Old Royalists, Colombo 18/12 (after leading 8/2 at half time).
Final: the Old Sokians, Ambalangoda after leading 12/6 at the breather, went on to win 16/12, thanks to the energetic allround performance from the 51 year Old, Piyal de Silva (10 points); The Cooray Brothers, Priya and Sriya, Samson de Mel (6 points) and Philan Fernando (6 points) excelled for Moratuwa in beating Old Sebastianites, Moratuwa. Piyal de Silva from Old Sokians, Ambalangoda was adjudged as the most outstanding player of the tournament.
The teams that failed to enter the knockout round were, Old Christ the King, Ja-Ela, Old Thomians Mt. Lavinia, Old Isipatanians Colombo, Old Joes Darley Road and Old Michealmen Batticaloa.
The historic tournament, the brain child of the MBSL President, Old Sebastianites, Neil Perera, participated by 13 Mens teams and two Womens teams, conducted over two days was a tremendous success. Furthermore, the tournament was conducted at the flood-lit MCA court which Neil Perera built for the MCA in 2007; He went on to be the MCA President in 2008 – 2010.
In between the oldies finals, youngsters were given a chance to display their basketball skills. In the Under-15 girls match, Lycium International Nugegoda beat St. Joseph’s Girls School Nugegoda 12/2; and in the Under-10 boys match, Colombo Academy beat Mini Basketball Academy 20/8.
Old Sebastianites, Priya Cooray who flew down from Dubai to participate, also one of the Referees at the tournament was the Guest-of-Honour.
The Chief Guest was Old Peterite, former National Player, FIBA Referee, Naufer Maharoof.