Kandy YMCA and Wallala A. Ratnayake SC - Cager champions

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN-Kandy sports correspondent

Kandy Young Men's Christian Association (women's) and Wallala A. Ratnayake Sports Club (Men's) became champions of the Inter-club Basketball Tournament organised by the Knady District Basketball Association and worked off at Azar Basketball Courts at Akurana.

Over 100 matches were played during the three days of this tournament which produced a very high standard of basketball.

In the women's finals Kandy YMCA girls put up a sparkling display to edge out the University of Peradeniya 24 - 22 in a thriller. At half time the YMCA Cagers led 10 - 8.

The winners owe their victory to the sharp shooting of Dhammika Delpitige who accounted for 12 points and was supported with some power play by Udeni Iddamalgoda, Manjula Amarawardena and Shamal Munasinghe who scuttled the defence of the undergrads. Jeewani Wilathgama who captained Kandy YMCA team was adjudged the "Best Player of the Tournament".

In the men's finals Wallala A. Ratnayake Sports Club from the rural areas of Menikhinna sprang a surprise when they beat the defending champions and the more fancied Kandy Cagers 28 - 23 to clinch the championship title. At half time Wallala led 12 - 9.

It was the long passes and the speedy play of the Wallala Cagers which upset the Kandy Cagers.

Sameera Hettiarachchi of Wallala A. Ratnayake Sports Club who collected 12 points was adjudged the Best player of the finals.

In the semi-finals Wallala A. Ratnayake were given a torrid time by Scholasticate Oblates from the Ampitiya Seminary before they squeezed through to a 21 - 20 win. At half-time Wallala led 8 - 7. This was one of the best matches of the tournament with the young priests putting up a gallant display and they went down fighting but not before winning the hearts of all.

In the second semi-final Kandy Cagers scored a narrow 22 - 20 win over old Azarian after leading 12 - 10 at lemons.

The Chief Minister of the Central Province and president of Sri Lanka Basketball Federation Sarath Ekanayake was the Chief Guest and he distributed the awards with Guests of Honour M. Shafie (Member CPC), Brigadier Udaya Ariyaratne (Principal, Trinity College) and M. Uvais (Principal Al Azar Central College).