Gateway Colombo upset Royal 62-58

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Gateway girls beat Ladies''

In an action filled 2nd Alles-Gunasekera Basketball encounter Gateway College, Colombo upset the high riding Royal College, Colombo with a hard fought 62-57 victory to register their first win in the series at the Henry Pedris Basketball Complex last Saturday.Gateway made amendments for their defeat last year in the inaugural encounter leveling the tally one each.

Both sides displayed their skills in the courts by making a game to be remembered. Royal went ahead in the early stage of the game but Gateway lead in the 1st quarter 16-11. The 2nd quarter saw a high scoring affair with both sides making a desperate attempt to take the lead. Gateway led the quarter 34-27.

The 3rd and the 4th quarters produced a fine exhibition of basketball as both sides played a fast and made some fantastic movements. Gateway maintained their momentum to be in the lead 51-44. In the final quarter with two minutes for the final whistle the scores stood 55 each.

Royal College team before the game

Aaron Fonseka and Disure Dissanayake managed to put Gateway in the lead by 5 points at the final whistle to make amendments for their last year’s defeat Gateway College, Colombo enjoyed a fine day’s of basketball at the Henry Pedris Basketball Complex last Saturday when they won the Alles-Gunasekera Challenge Trophy at the 2nd edition of the encounter and their Under-15 and Girls won their matches handsomely.

Prior to the main event the Under-15 clash took place. Gateway juniors outplayed the better fancied Royal 27-21. Royal led in the 1st quarter 8-6 but there onwards the Gateway juniors dominated the game with some intelligent and fine passes leading the 2nd quarter 16-13, the 3rd 21-17 and the final quarter 27-21.

The main scorers of the game were Sihas Kumarasinghe (7) for Gateway and Sharo Perera (7) for the winners.In the Invitational match between Gateway Girls and Ladies College, Gateway lasses scored and easy 19-7 victory. From the start Gateway were well heading for victory by leading in all four quarters of the game.

Y. Foenander (8) and Sadali Liyanage (5) were the main contributors for Gateway College.Gateway’s Chevaan de Costa was adjudged Most Valuable Player for some fancy footwork and lightning speed on the court which ensured that the ball remained with the team. Aaron Fonseka of Royal was adjudged the Best Offensive Player and Heshan Mihitalawa of Royal was named the Best Defensive Player.

High scorers for Gateway were Aaron Fonseka (19), Chenuka Kasthuriarachchi (14) and Chevaan de Costa (12). Royal College fought hard to retain the trophy with both Heshan Hansaka and Ravindra Jayawardene scoring 12 each. However, several missed baskets took the game away from them and sealed victory for Gateway.

– Lakshman Ranasinghe;
Pix by Ranjith Perera