Royalists bag St. Eugene’s Trophy

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Royal College proved their dominance in the St. Eugene's Cup basketball tournament by bagging two titles when the annual five-a-side tournament concluded its 2012 version in grand style at the Police Park basketball courts yesterday. Royal senior team walked away with the St. Eugene's challenge trophy when they beat All Greens BC comfortably 21-7 in the Cup Championship final.

Senior Royalists maintained a superb record in the three-day tournament and defeated Old Bens BC 22-8 in the semi-final while All Greens booked their final berth by beating Moratuwa University 14-3 in the other Cup semi-final.

The Plate Championship was won by SL Air Force team while the Old Lasalians BC bagged the Bowl Championship. Track Masters’ whites clinched the women's championship while Royal juniors emerged champions in the schools’ tournament.

Drizzle

The three-day tournament was dampened by the rain on the final day, but the five finals were played amidst drizzling.

Royalists dominated the Cup final from the beginning and posted a comfortable ten-point lead at half time 12-2. All Greens were struggling with a solitary one basket and did not able to pose any resistance. They missed few scoring opportunities and did not able to counter attack for Royalists.

Even in the second half winners continued in the same fashioned attack and defended their ring with a good team work.

Rishan Rizvi scored eight points for the winners while Ashen Menuka and Samera Chanaka who was adjudjed the Best Player of the Cup final contributed with four points each for the Royalists. Damith Dushan was the best scorer for the losers who added five points.

Royal seniors were led by captain Sandeepa Rathnayaka and Manaram Bandara was the All Greens’ captain.

Plate final

Meanwhile Airmen beat Ceylon Services Corps (Army CSC) 14-5 in the Plate Championship final after leading 8-5 in the first half. S Kapijeen who was picked as the Best Player and Mahesh Kumara were the best contributors for the winners and scored six points each. Sudesh Sandaruwan added three points for CSC.

Bowl final

Old Lasalians registered an easy win in the Bowl Championship final against Chraist King BC 19-8. Lasalians took the early lead by scoring 13-8 at the first half and totally restricted the opponents in the second half without giving them a single point. Ameera Gunasekara who was given the Best Player award and Chris Dias scored six and four points respectively for the winners and Shanaka Perea contributed with six points for Christ King BC.

Two teams from the Track Masters BC battled it out in the women's final where ‘Whites’ emerged winners after beating ‘Blues’ in a close contests 13-11. Even though Whites were one point ahead mid way (4-3), Blues fought hard in the second half and were gaining the control at a stage.

Both teams battled point to point bringing spectators to the edge of their seats. It was a nail biting finish where Whites grabbed the victory just a one basket ahead.

Pamila Fernando (five points) and Kumari Silva (four points) were the top scorers for the winners while Solangi Gunavijaya and Imesha Thathsarani contributed six and four points respectively for the losers. Benika Thalagala of Track Masters’ Whites was awarded the Best Player.

Thrilling final

Royal juniors won the Schools Championship beating Delasal College 10-8 in a thrilling final after scores tallied eight all in full time. Royalists made the winning basket during the extra two minutes to bring home their second champion shield. Even though Dilasal were in lead during the first half 3-2 fortune favours for the Reid Avenue boy at the last moment. Ragu Ragavan of Royal College was picked as the Best Player for his highest contribution of six points for the winners in the final while Anushka Fernando scored six points for the losing team.

Fr. E. J. Hebert medal for the outstanding service for local basketball fraternity was awarded to Brother Philip of Jesus who was a former St. Benedict's Principal and the co-founder of Diyagala Boys’ Town in Ragama. Rev. Farther Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe was the chief guest at the award ceremony.