Kumarine and Anjalee propel HNB to victory
Hatton National Bank dominated over Commercial Credit and Finance to win by 59-43
The vast experience of Kumarine Silva and the extraordinary energy of skipper Anjalee Ekanayake propelled HNB to a sparkling , 59/43 win over Commercial Credit & Finance in the 28th MSBA League Women’s ‘A’ division Level One Basketball Final, at Sir Edward Henry Pedris Stadium, under lights.
Commercial Credit & Finance got off to a flying start obtaining a 10/0 lead in the first five minutes of the game, but this was short lived, as HNB took full control of the game with their rock solid defence of Kumarine Silva and Umanga de Zoysa and the unstoppable offence of Anjalee Ekanayake to lead in all three quarters, 13/11, 28/23 and 41/31, before winning, 59/43. Commercial Credit & Finance remained unbeaten in the league stage, beating NTB 50/19, |Seylan 43/40 and HNB 69/50.
Kumarini Silva (16), Umanga de Zoysa (15) and Anjalee Ekanayake (13) scored for the winners; Solange Gunawijaya (18) and Prasadi Fonseka (15) were brilliant for the losers.
Kumarine Silva was picked as the most outstanding player in the Final; the “Ranil Ganewatte “ Memorial Trophy, awarded for the Most Valuable player of the tournament went to Anjalee Ekanayake (both from HNB)
Earlier in the evening, Seylan Bank costed to a comfortable, 51/24 win over NTB, in the Womens ‘A’ Division Level II final.
Seylan Bank had an easy outing against Nations Trust Bank, to win by 51-24
Seylan Bank led in all three quarters, 9/8, 25/17 and 38/18.
The player of the final was Kunchana Wijesiriwardena, the ‘Ranil Ganewatte’ Memorial trophy awarded to the Most Valuable player went to Benika Thalagala (both from Seylan Bank)
Earlier at the same venue, Hayleys Group scored a comprehensive, 87/51 win over Aitken Spence Group in the Men’s ‘E’ division final and Akbar Bros scored a hard fought, 59/51 win over Sampath Bank in the Men’s ‘C’ division Final.
Results of finals
Women’s
‘A’ L1: Hatton National Bank 59 (Kumarine Silva 16, Umanga De Zoysa 15, Anjalee Ekanayake 13) beat Commercial Credit & Finance 43 (Solange Gunawijeya 18, Prasadi Fonseka 15)
Player of the Game: Kumarine Silva (HNB)
Most Valuable Player: Anjalee Ekanayake (HNB)
‘A’ L2: Seylan Bank 51 (Kunchana Wijesiriwardene 24, Kamalene Mills 12, Greshani Fernando 
beat Nations Trust Bank 24 (Mishika Gunawijeya 11)
Player of the Game: Kunchana Wijesiriwardene (Seylan Bank)
Most Valuable Player: Benika Thalagala (Seylan Bank)
Men’s ‘C’ Division: Akbar Brothers 59 (Dimitri Grebe 21, Sanketha Jayaratne 15, Thushara Jayaratne 11) beat Sampath Bank 52 (Chanuka jayasuriya 19, Vimukthi Illangasinghe 8, Anushka Vishwanath 7)
Player of the Game: Sanketha Jayaratne (Akbar Bros.)
Most Valuable Player: Dimitri Grebe (Akbar Bros)
Men’s ‘E’ Division: Hayleys Group 87 (Rakitha De Silva 24, Rishane Fernando 18, Shelan Fernando 19) beat Aitken Spence 51 (Rashmika Lawrence 27, Anuruddha Wickremasinghe 10)
Player of the Game: Rakitha De Silva (Hayleys)
Most Valuable Player: Rashmika Lawrence (Aitken Spence)