Mercantile basketball:

Hayleys in hard fought win

Hayleys Advants launched their campaign for the men's 'C' division title with a hard fought 46 points to 37 points victory over Ceylinco Group in their Delmege Super League Mercantile basketball tournament match played at the Otters Aquatic Club courts yesterday.

Hayleys took a close 19-17 lead at half time but put up an improved performance in the second half and went on to win the match by a convincing margin. Z. Gazalli (27) and S. Peiris (13) did the bulk of the scoring for Hayleys while P. Sameera (13) and G. Chamara (15) excelled for Ceylinco Group.

In another 'C' division tournament match Commercial Bank outplayed Dialog Telekom 'B' team by 48 points to 29 points having led 21-10 at half time. The rest of the teams competing in the men's 'C' division tournament are MAS Holdings, Airport and Aviation Services, Amana Takaful and Nations Trust Bank 'B' team.

The tournament sponsored by Delmege Forsyth Group for the third successive year will be continued today with a card of three games down for decision at the same venue.

The Hatton National Bank women's team who are making a comeback after a lapse of two years will take on David Pieris Motor Company Limited at 5.00 p.m. This will be followed by the men's 'C' division clash between Dialog 'B' team and MAS Holdings at 6.00 p.m.

The final game for the day will be the men's 'B' division fixture between Union Assurance Limited and David Pieris Motor Company Limited.

(C.D)