Keyasha leads HFC to first ever under 19 cager title
History was created on Sunday the 14th July 2013 in front of a full house at the Henry Pedris Basketball Complex in Colombo when the Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya team led by Keyasha Siriwardana won the 2013 All Island Under 19 Inter School A Division Basketball Championship defeating St. Joseph’s Girls School Nugegoda 44-39. This is the first occasion HFC Bambalapitiya has won this title after participating in this tournament for over four decades. HFC achieved another first on that day. With this win Familians have won championship titles of all four age categories for which inter schools tournaments are conducted, winning Championship Trophies of last four All Island Inter Schools Basketball Championships conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association, under 19 last week, under 17 earlier this year, under 15 and under 14 during latter part of 2012. A tremendous achievement indeed.
Keyasha Siriwar-
Withthis winFamilians have wonchampionship titles of all four age categories for which inter schools tournamentsare conducted
dana, who led the HFC Team to the All Island Inter Schools A Division under 15 Basketball Title in 2009, A trophy that HFC won after a laps of 23 years, while herself winning the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Trophy at that tournament, once again displayed her leadership qualities leading the team from the front inspiring the rest of the team by example. In spite of a nasty fall during the latter part of the first quarter which resulted her having to be taken out of the court for medical attention, she returned to the court at the commencement of the second quar- ter to continue till the end winning herself the Player of the Final Award in the process, with a superb display of court craft both in offence and defence.
Towering Manthila Galassage, the 13 year old six footer is the find of the HFC Team. Although relatively inexperienced, she performed well under pressure in the all important final. She and her team mate from under 14 team Dilumi Gunawardena, both of whom played a big role in bringing the All Island under 14 and under 15 championship titles to HFC last year too contrib-
uted to the HFC victory and are future prospects not only to the school but to the country as well.
Nerusha Warnakula, Fathinah Suhail, Shamalka Fernando, Shashini Moraes, Luckshala Fernando and Serena Warnakula were the other members of the Champion HFC under 19 team.
All four champion Familian Teams were coached by Roshan Randima assisted by Shane Daniel. Roshan himself is one of the best basketball players in the country today having represented the National Team for past many years.