Moratuwa University clinch St.Eugene’s Trophy

Anuradha Abeysekera

Moratuwa University ‘A’ team bagged the St Eugene’s Trophy by defeating the Old Bens BC team (25-17) in the third St Eugen’s Trophy five-a-side basketball tournament Cup Championship final played at the Police Park courts yesterday.

Moratuwa boys opened their account after the Old Bens scored seven points, gradually get in to the rhythm. But winners were lagging behind by two points at half time (11-13). A speedy game was played in the second half where both teams battled point to point.

University team equaled the scores 13 all in the middle of the second half and took the lead by adding two consecutive baskets to bring the scores 17-13. They tightened their defence and did not allow their opponents to score a point for a considerable time while increasing the gap to take control of the match. When the score read 21-13 the Old Bens seemed to have given up the game and University team won the match with an eight point margin.

Chirath Pathirawasam who was adjudged the Best Player scored nine points while Isuru Jayawardane contributed with five points to the winning team. Praveen Ganlath was the best scorer for the losing team with eight points.

Don Bosco BC won the Plate Championship by beating Christ Kings BC in the final (18-15). The losers had a one point lead mid way (10-11) but went down with a three point gap at the end. Shean Sameera and Frank Dickens scored nine and seven points respectively for the winners while Oshan Danasekera contributed with seven points for the losers.

SL Air Force BC clinched the Bowl Championship by overcoming the SL Army BC in the final (26-15).

The Airmen posted a five point lead at half time (11-06). Thayalan Sathyalingam (nine points) and Oshan Dhananjaya (six points) were the highest scorers for the Air Force team while Anton Johns added six points for the Army.

Track Masters BC walked away with the girls champion trophy beating the Navy team in a close fight (23-21).

The winners were just a point ahead at half time (12-11) after a point to point battle. Benika Thalagala with three three pointers contributed with 12 points while Jaliya Kumari added four points for the winning team. Inoka Sandamali and Sulochana Sewwandi scored eight and four points respectively for the losers.

The Spirit of the Game award went on to the Don Bosco team while the Rev. Fr. Eugene John Hebert medal for the unitary service for the sport was awarded to former national basket ball coach and former SLBF Secretary Francis de Almeida for his 40 years of service to Sri Lanka basketball.

Results:

Cup Championship

Winners - Moratuwa University ‘A’ team

First runner up - Old Bens BC

Second runner up – Royal BC ‘A’ team

Best player - Chirath Pathirawasam (Moratuwa University ‘A’ team)

Plate Championship

Winners - Don Bosco BC

First runner up - Christ Kings BC

Second runner up – Wattala BC

Best player – Sameera Peris (Don Bosco BC)

Bowl Championship

Winners - Air Force BC

First runner up - Army BC

Second runner up – St. Eugen’s BC

Best player – Roshan Dhanajaya (Air Force BC)

Girls Championship

Winners - Track Masters BC

First runner up - Navy BC

Second runner up – Josephians BC

Best player – Kumari Silva (Track Masters BC)