Basketball: David Peiris wins 25th Mercantile Services League

David Pieris Motor Co. bagged the 25th Mercantile Services Basketball Association League Tournament 2015, Women’s ‘B’ division title, with a convincing 61-41 win over National Development Bank (NDB) in the final concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on last Wednesday (9).

The battle was between the strongly built Shalika Gomes (DPMC) and the electric Natasha Perera (NDB), who dominated the whole game. 

Gomes scored 30 points and Perera scored 25 points in the process.

DPMC led in all three quarters: 13/16, 28/22 (half time) and 43/35, before winning by 20 points (61/41).

Before meeting each other in the final, both teams were unbeaten; DPMC beating John Keells 48/37, IFS 52/18 and HSBC 62/39; while the bankers beat IFS 59/24, HSBC 59/30 and John Keells 51/20.

In the playoff for the third place, HSBC beat J. Keells 28/17 last Tuesday (8). 

In the Men’s ‘D’ division final that followed, Kanrich Finance had to muster all their resources to beat Seylan Bank 58/52.

Kanrich Finance went into the final as clear favourites, as they whipped Seylan Bank with a whopping 71/37 win in their league outing. 

But, Kanrich Finance was into a big surprise, as the bankers came up with an extremely improved performance to lead 31/22 at half time, after taking the first quarter at 19/11. 

After the breather, Kanrich Finance got their act together and took the 3rd quarter 45/41 to get in front for the first time in the game. 

As Seylan Bank was running out of fuel in the final burst, Kanrich had enough in their tanks to nose through 58/52.

Dilan Kosgahakumbura (20) was the top shooter for Kanrich Finance, while Gayan Samaraweera (16) played a diehard game for Seylan Bank. 

In the league stage, Kanrich Finance, other than their win against Seylan Bank, beat SriLankan Airlines ‘B’ 74/33,  LOLC 79/59 and MAS Holdings ‘Blacks’  55/25;  Seylan Bank beat LOLC 72/66, Sri Lankan Airlines ‘B’  61/44 and  Softlogic Group 73/51.