28th MSBA League Basketball Tournament concludes
The 28th MSBA League Basketball Tournament 2018 with the participation of 52 teams, men and women, comprising 128 matches, which commenced on September 10, constantly interrupted by rain, came to a conclusion at the SLAF indoor courts, Bauddhaloka Mawatha.
Four finals were completed at Sir Edward Henry Pedris Stadium on November 27 and 28 and the four finals which got rained off November 28 and 29 at the same venue, were shifted to SLAF courts:
Womens “B” division : David Pieris Group of Companies toppled the unbeaten league table topper, MAS Holdings, 46/39, after leading 28/19 at half time.
Pramesha Fernando (17 points, player of the match) and Tharushika Alwis (15 points, winner of Ranil Ganewatte Memorial Trophy, awarded for the Most Valuable Player) were the shooting stars for DPGC.
Natasha de Silva (12) and Taahara Cuttilan (10) stood out for MAS.
Mens “D” division : down 27/38 at half time and with a deficit of 17 points at the third quarter, Citizens Development Business Finance opened full throttle in the fourth Quarter to catch David Pieris Group of Companies on the wrong foot and went on a rampage to score 41 points, to maintain their unbeaten status, winning 88/71 ; the 03 players who were responsible for CDB’S fantastic turn around were Sandun Jayalath (18 points, Player of the Final), Lakshitha Fonseka (17 points, Most Valuable Player, awarded the Ranil Ganewatte Memorial Trophy) and Dilan Dinushka (16).
Nalaka Kumarasinghe (21), Jagath Kulathunga (18) & Asanga de Silva (12) were outstanding for DPGC.
Mens “B” division : Srilankan Airlines had to wait 13 long years for this moment. They took sweet revenge over Standard Chartered Bank, with superlative performance, 57/50.
SCB beat the Sri Lankans, 56/42 in their league outing.
The game swung like a pendulum, SCB taking the first Quarter, 11/7 and led 26/22 at H/T.THE scores were leveled at 34/34 at the third Quarter
Hogging the lime light was Andre Jayakody, who scored 15 points, to take his tally to 125 in seven matches, including the final. He was fittingly named as the Most Valuable Player thus winning the Ranil Ganewatte Memorial Trophy.
Game changer, Nigel Jayamaha (17 points, player of the Final) and Chathun Fernando (15) played a do-ordie game for SLA.
Madushanka Ratnayake (20) and Sandeepa Ratnayake (16) were outstanding for SCB.
Mens “A” Division : Sameera Senarath came back strongly after long layout due to an injury, as he top scored with 27 points, to propel, Commercial Credit and Finance to a thrilling 72/65 win over Fairfirst Insurance.
The game was played at a terrific pace, Commercial Credit had a one point lead at the end of the quarter (20/19); Fairfirst fought tooth and nail and led by two points at the turn around (33/31). Commercial Credit played a calculated game in the third Quarter to lead 51/45.
The Thevakumar Bros, Brent and Clinton were just unstoppable throughout the tournament. Brent took his baskets to 98, including the final and Clinton finished with a tally of 95, including the final.
Praneeth Udugampola stood tall for Fairfirst top scoring with 28 points, taking his tally to 120 in the tournament.
Brent Thevakumar was picked as the Man of the Final, while Sameera Senerath was adjudged as Most Valuable Player, thus winning the Ranil Ganewatte Memorial Trophy.
It was past 11:00 pm when the last of the four finals ended amidst a packed and spectators at the post match presentation that followed, awards, including the Knock-out Tournament Final, were given away by the MSBA Officials – Nishantha Wickramage (Patron), Brawin Fernando (President), Rimaz Hassan (VP), Basil Silva (VP), Melvin Polloks (VP) and Mafaz Mohideen.