CC&F clinch ‘A’ division title
The Men's matches were closely cointested
Commercial Credit & Finance clinched the ‘A’ Division Men’s Basketball title with a thrilling 72/65 victory over FairFirst Insurance while SriLankan Airlines emerged winners of the Men’s ‘B’ Division title at the 28th Mercantile Services Basketball Association League Basketball Tournament 2018 which came to a close at the SLAF Indoor Courts, Bauddhaloka Mawatha.
Fifty-two men’s and women’s teams participated and commenced on 10th September. It had 128 matches in all. Rain caused constant interruptions and as a result, the finals of the men’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ and Women’s ‘B’ and Men’s ‘D’ division matches were worked Men’s ‘A’ and ‘B’, Women’s ‘B’ and Men’s ‘D’ division final matches worked off at the Sri Lanka Air Force Indoor Courts.
David Pieris Group of Companies with a win over MAS Holdings emerged winners in the Women’s ‘B’ Division and in the last final match worked off CDB Finance defeated David Pieris Group to win the Men’s ‘D’ Division crown.
Action from the Women's game
Sameera Senarath came back strongly after a long lay off due to injury to be the top scorer with twenty seven points, to propel Commercial Credit & Finance to a 72/65 win.
The game was played at a terrific pace as Commercial Credit had a one point lead in the first quarter 20/19. FairFirst fought tooth and nail to lead by two points at the turn round 33-31. Commercial Credit played a well calculated game in the third quarter to lead 51/45 and finished 72/65 in the final quarter.
Thevakumar brothers, Brent and Clinton were just unstoppable throughout the tournament. Brent took his tally of baskets to 98 including the final and Clinton finished with a tally of 95 inclusive of the final.
In the Men’s ‘B’ Division event SriLankan Airlines had to wait thirteen long years to emerge victorious as they took sweet revenge over Standard Chartered Bank with a superlative performance 57/50. Standard Chartered grounded SriLankan Airlines 56/42 in their league outing.
Detailed results of Finals
- ‘A’ Division: Men’s -
Commercial Credit & Finance 72 (Sameera Senarath 27, Arnold Thevakumar 15, Clinton Thevakumar 10) beat FairFirst Insurance 65 (Praneeth Udumalagala 28, Isuru Perera 10)
Player of the Final: Arnold Thevakumar (Commercial Credit)
Most Valuable Player: Sameera Senarath (Commercial Credit)
- ‘B’ Division: Men’s -
SriLankan Airlines ‘A’ 57 (Nigel Jayamaha 17, Andre Jayakody 14, Chathun Fernando 14) beat Standard Chartered Bank 50 (Madushanka Rathnayake 20, Sandeepa Rathnayake 16)
Player of the Finals: Nigel Jayamaha (SriLankan Airlines)
Most Valuable Player: Andre Jayakody (SriLankan Airlines)
- ‘B’ Division: Women’s -
David Pieris Group 46 (Premesha Fernando 17, Tharushika Alwis 14) beat MAS Holdings 39 (Natasha De Silva 12, Taahera Cuttilan 10)
Player of the Finals: Tharushika Alwis (David Pieris Group)
Most Valuable Player: Premesha Fernando (David Pieris Group)
- ‘D’ Division: Men’s -
CDB Finance 88 (Sandun Jayanath 18, Lakshitha Fonseka 17, Dilan Dinushka 16) beat David Pieris Group (Nalaka Kumarasinghe 21, Jagath Kulatunga 18, Asanga De Silva 11)
Player of the Finals: Sandun Jayanath (CDB)
Most Valuable Player: Lakshitha Fonseka (CDB)