HSC ‘Blues’ pick the plum in absolute thriller
HSC ‘Blues’ came from behind to snatch a heart-stopping 19-17 win over Colombo BC ‘Reds’ in the Men’s final of the Colombo District Basketball Association, Colombo Super 3×3 Championships, concluded under lights at St. Joseph’s Girls School in Nugegoda.
Men’s champions - HSC Blues
In the Women’s final played prior to the Men’s final, Track Masters coasted to a comfortable 18-9 win over Sri Lanka Navy SC.
The Men’s final proved an absolute thriller with Colombo BC, comprising Roshan Fernando, Anushka Jayalath, Sudesh Ahamed and Amila Ratnayake holding the upper hand most of the time; HSC ‘Blues’ fought back tooth and nail with the robust, Mithila Abeysekera, the experienced, Roshan Randima, the young and energetic, Migara Senarath and S. Vaheeshan, to equalise 17-17 at full time (10 minutes).
According to the playing conditions, during extra time, the first team that scored two points was the winner and Mithila Abeysekera shot both winning baskets.
32 Men’s teams and four Women’s teams participated in this fast and furious tournament sponsored by Dialog Axiata and supported by Pan Asia Banking Corporation, Complain, AIA Insurance and Commercial Credit & Finance PLC.
Women’s champions - Track Master
In the interesting one-minute, 3 point shooting competition, which followed, Benika Thalagala from Track Masters (8 points) and the 14-year-old schoolboy from Royal Institute, Janith Gamage (8 points) emerged as the winners in the Women’s and Men’s respectively.
Awards were presented by Aruna Gunatillake, President, Colombo District Basketball Association, Hysinth Wijesinghe, former Double International in Basketball and Netball and former National Netball Coach, Tharindu Fernando, former National Youth Basketball Coach, and Shammi Muthumala, Patron, Colombo District Basketball Association.
The round robin matches were conducted on Sunday morning and the finals played from 4.30pm onwards, as follows:
Men’s Semi-final 1: HSC ‘Blues’ beat Colombo BC ‘White’ 16-8
Men’s Semi-final 2: Colombo BC ‘Red’ beat Avant Garde ‘A’ 19-17
Women’s Consolation final: SL Air force SC beat HSC ‘Blues’ 7-5
Men’s Consolation final: Colombo BC ‘Whites’ beat Avant Garde ‘A’ 15-14
Women’s Final: Track Masters comprising Benika Thalagala, Kumarine Silva, Prasadi Fonseka, Sanduni Perera beat SL Navy SC 18-9
Men’s Final: HSC ‘Blues’ beat Colombo BC ‘Red’ 19-17 in extra time (Full time 17-17)