Sanathnagar champs
Flying hoopsters shoot down Eagles, win Shujath memorial tourney
Sanathnagar Playground continued their fine run to shoot Eagles down and score a thumping 91-76 win in a well-contested final of the Nawab Shujath Ahmed Khan memorial basketball tournament played at the City College courts in Hyderabad.
Both teams were on level terms by the end of the first quarter with the scores reading 25-23 in the favour of Eagles.
In this quarter every player of the winning team chipped in with their contribution while for the Eagles, Rohan and Avaneesh kept their side in contest.
The second half also saw Nikhil of Sanathnagar in top gear as he was unstoppable with his drive-in shots and fine jump shots within the ‘D’ area.
Shiva further added fuel to the fire to take a comfortable 51-42 lead by the end of the second quarter.
In the third quarter the winners combined so well, that the Eagles were left clueless. Prudvi scored from under the basket with some fine passing from Shoeb and Naveed’s drive-ins.
Later, Sananthnagar introduced Basanth into the attack as substitute who pulled the match away to safety with the 3 pointers and ensuring a big lead for his team by the end of third quarter when the scores read 7654.
Eagles skipper, Aman was off colour and some loose ball holding on the part of the tall players attributed to their conceding a big lead. The fourth quarter saw a bit of fightback from the Eagles and they outscored the winners too, but the lead established by the end of third quarter by Sananthnagar was sufficient to win the match and take the coveted trophy home.
Inayath Ali Baqri, Chairman, Setwin services was the chief guest who awarded the individual prizes and trophies to the winners and runner-up teams. Norman Isaac, general secretary, Telangana State Basketball Association was felicitated for his elevation as technical director of FIBA.