Gateway beat Joes to win Schools ‘A’ Division cager title
View(s):Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association (SLSBA). In a hard-fought final, Gateway emerged victorious over St. Joseph’s College with a score of 46-38, crowning themselves champions after an unbeaten run throughout the tournament.
Despite interruptions caused by adverse weather, which forced organisers to move the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final to indoor courts, Gateway remained composed and undeterred. Competing against 19 of the top teams in Sri Lanka, they showcased their prowess and teamwork from start to finish.
The victorious Gateway U-15 basketball team Seated (R to L): Fawzan Thariq (Senior Sports Coordinator & Boys’ Basketball Coordinator), Tharindu Fernando (Head Coach), Mrs. Vinita Shenoy (Principal), Ashain George Theverapperuma (Captain), Dr Harsha Alles (Chairman), Samuel Tsung (Vice-Captain), Jayanthi Somasekaram De Silva (Head of Sports) Suranji Peiris ((Senior Sports Coordinator & Girls’ Basketball Coordinator), Hansindu De Silva (Assistant Coach) Standing (R to L): Sashain Perera, Taresh Samarasinghe, Adeesa Liyanage, Sanuja Jayasundara, Damiru Suriyapperuma, Julan Senmitha, Akain Vitanachy, Mathisha Udumalagala, Abhee Witharana, Shashain Ratnayake, Fabian Fernando and Dhanuka Wijegoonaratne
Gateway’s journey to the final was nothing short of spectacular. They overwhelmed their opponents with decisive wins during the group stages by overcoming Isipathana College (81-26), Royal College (88-47), Maliyadeva College (81-27) and D.S. Senanayake College (70-20).
In the knockout rounds, they continued to dominate, beating
St. Peter’s College, Colombo (68-27) in the quarter-finals and St. Peter’s College, Negombo (79-33) in the semi-finals, leading them to a triumphant final showdown against St. Joseph’s.
The team displayed outstanding individual performances that contributed to their overall success. Leading the team as captain and shooting guard, Ashane Theverapperuma played a crucial role in delivering key points during intense moments. His leadership on and off the court earned him the title of Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Vice Captain Samuel Tsung, who held down the power forward position, was a defensive powerhouse. His remarkable shot-blocking and rebounding skills were instrumental in shutting down the opposition, and his efforts earned him the award for Best Defensive Player.
At point guard Dhanuka Wijegoonaratne demonstrated incredible agility and court awareness, earning the nickname ‘Steal Master’ for his ability to disrupt the opposition’s offense and intercept passes, giving Gateway the upper hand in crucial moments.
Akain Vitanachy was a force to be reckoned with as power forward. His physical presence and versatility in both offense and defence helped control the paint, contributing significantly to the team’s rebounding and scoring efforts. Julan Senmitha, as centre, skilfully managed the team’s offense, demonstrating excellent vision and playmaking abilities, keeping the team composed and in control throughout the tournament.
Together, the entire team cohesive unit, with each player playing their part in securing Gateway’s triumphant and unbeaten journey to the championship. Gateway’s achievement also reflects the strength of their basketball programme and the hard work put in by the coaches under the leadership of Tharindu Fernando and the teachers-in-charge.