Commercial Credit and Finance PLC by a whisker
The 12th Ram Ratnavale Memorial Trophy, Mercantile Services Basketball Association Knock Out tournament 2018 came to a close, minus the Men’s ‘A’ division, at the Sir Edward Henry Pedris Stadium, HFC Blues Court, under lights recently. Women’s ‘A’ division and the Men’s ‘B’ division finals were played and the Women’s Final which was scheduled to commence at 6.00 pm got off to a very late start due to rain.
Women’s ‘A’ division final: The youthful and energetic Commercial Credit & Finance PLC team dethroned the experienced HNB by the skin of their teeth at 50/49. HNB skipper Asha Nanayakkara never allowed things to easy, and she scored four straight points to tie the game at 49-49. With 30 seconds remaining to the final whistle Commercial Credit’s hour of glory came Prasadi Fonseka scored the winning point off a free throw.
Commercial Credit with their relentless attacking, led on all 3 quarters, 13/8, 28/21and 44/35 before winning.
The match winning shooters for Commercial Credit were Imesha Tathsarani (17), Solange Gunawijaya (15) and Prasadi Fonseka (13). Dilani Fernando (17) and Umayanga de Zoysa (15) top scored for HNB.
Special awards: Imesha Tathsarani, Player of the Final and Solange Gunawijaya, Most Valuable Player – both from Commercial Credit & Finance PLC.
Men’s ‘B’ division final: In a tense battle that swung like a pendulum, John Keells Holdings beat Kanrich Finance, 58/52. Both teams matched each other at every possession.
Kanrich Finance took the first two quarters, 17/14 and 28/26. Dhinal Perera and Padmashanka Weerasinghe spear headed the attack, as John Keells took the third quarter, 41/38.
Charith de Silva (10), Lahiru Sovis (15) and Sidath Senanayake (10) put the finishing touches in fine style for JK in the last quarter.
Kanishka Wijesinghe (16), Meren Perera (15) and Sameera Nishanga (10) played a hard game for Kanrich Finance.
Special Awards: Charith de Silva (Man of the Final) and Lahiru Sovis (Most Valuable player), both from John Keells.
The Presenters at the post match awards were, Brawin Fernando (President), Nishantha Wickramage (Patron), Rimaz Hassan (Snr. Vice President), Basil Silva (Vice President), Melwin Pollocks (Vice President), Mafaz Mohideen (Gen. Secretary), Manaram Bandara (Treasurer) and Jonathan Armugam (Com. Member), all from MSBA along with Anuja Ratnayake, former SL Schools and National Player and National Selector (Chief Guest) and Tharindu Fernando, former National Youth Coach and Consultant to SLBF (Guest of Honour).