AIS take cager title with thrilling victory over De La Salle at 78-64
An absorbing game of basketball was witnessed at the finals of the National Schools Western Province Under 19 Basketball championship 2015 at St. Josephs College Courts last Thursday.
Asian International School met De La Salle College, Kandana and the game from the first quarter took off to a speedy affair as both teams matched each other in every department of the game.
The player who stole the limelight from the start was none other than De Sallian No. 5 Anushka Dilan who made the first break and that too in the first minute of play. Defending and shooting of both schools was a treat to watch as the first quarter finished with 14-13 in favour of the Kandana School.
The lads of De La Salle dominated in the second quarter with some elegant dribbling and with well controlled passes to the playmaker Dilan to do the on target shooting. The international school lads too were not willing to surrender as Thahir Akberally their No. 6 combining with Bevan Michael, the No. 10 gave some overtime work for the De Lasalle defenders when the second quarter came to an end with the De Lasallians widening the gap at 39-21.
It looked like a new AIS team taking the field in the 3rd quarter as they started to attack from the start which made the Kandana La Sallian players looking a disturbed lot as they dropped the ball at crucial points. Again Akberally and Samuels making use of the mistakes broke through in invading the opponent’s territory and made the target with accuracy.
De La Sallians made their passing erratic and on the other hand AIS players made Dilan’s movements limited as they marked him. They missed some easy opportunities at the basket. Even though Anushka Dilhan was well marked the other De Sallians made good attempts to score but managed to add only three points to the tally. AIS players combined together to add 29 points to their 2nd quarter tally which took them to the 4th quarter leading 50-42.
The final quarter took to a dramatic turn as De La Sallian playmaker Dilan changed positions from time to time to make some superb breakthroughs to fire at the basket with good support coming from his teammates. AIS heroes Thahir Akberally and Bevan Samuels played a major role to take the final tally to 78-64 which gave them a well deserved victory to emerge champs.
For the winners Thahir Akberally top scored with 33 while Bevan Samuels lent a big hand in the victory contributed with 26 points. For the runners-up ever green Anushka Dilan collected 25 points.
In the battle for the 3rd place St. Josephs College beat Royal College, Colombo 59-45.