Lanka Under-16 cagers runners-up in Dhaka
View(s):Sri Lanka Under 16 Basketball team finished their run to the South Asian Basketball championship as runners-up at the South Asian Basketball Association Under 16 championship in Dhaka, Bangladesh last week.
The importance of this performance was that the youths didn’t have the luxury of practicing before the commencement of the tournament due to the unfortunate incidents that took place on the Easter Sunday.
Sri Lanka were submerged by the South Asian giant, India 72-41 in the finals the Lankans failed to give their best as they stepped to the courts on an unbeaten record, fighting to qualify for the Asian Championship.
The island nation failed to live up to their reputation as fighters and the form they maintained in the previous matches was never in sight. The Indians were quick to take off as they kept the Lankans in bay scoring 26 points to Lanka’s 10 in the first quarter. Indians went from strength to strength in the second quarter putting Sri Lanka on the back seat.
Lankans’ pace dropped drastically and they failed to capitalize the height of its players as Sri Lanka’s team had 13 six footers out of the 15 man squad. The winners adopted a man to man strategy which helped them to out play the Lankans.
Half time scores stood India 42, Sri Lanka 18.
It wasn’t the day for the Lankans as their pattern of play was well marked by the Indians and due to pressure the shot selections of the lads never brought results.
The final whistle was blown with 72 points in favour of the Indians to Lanka’s 41.
In the preliminary round matches the Lankans using their height advantage to dominate in the three games. Grabbing the rebounds and pressure in defence was executed brilliantly.
India recorded their 4th consecutive win in the South Asian circuit placing themselves in the Asian stage.
In the preliminary round matches Sri Lanka beat Maldives 110-30, Nepal 62-55 and host Bangladesh 70-42. – Lakshman Ranasinghe