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Kathmandu Tuesday October 09, 2001 Ashwin 23, 2058.
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Lincoln, 10’ers, AIM join Gyanodaya in semis
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Oct 8 - Lincoln School came from behind to pull a sensational
52-50 victory over Ascol Juniors Monday to enter the semifinals of the 2nd Amrit Trophy
Basketball (ATB) tournament.
With both the teams opting for quick moves, the match was
never short of excitement but it was in the last quarter that it reached the climax.
Lincoln boys, trailing until the third quarter staged the most sensational win of the
tournament.
Ascol juniors were coasting to what seemed a comfortable win as they held a
12-point lead over Lincoln at 38-26. But Jam Fisler produced an individual brilliance to
stage Lincoln’s comeback scoring four consecutive baskets to reduce the deficit down
to 40-46.
Ascol’s Sanjaya Prajapati netted one more three minutes from time to
build up the lead but much to the disappointment of the home crowd, Ascol forward Prem
Sundar Hona had to leave the court as the referee counted five technical fouls against
him. Adding insult to injury, Lincoln’s Ram Babu converted a free throw and a
three-pointer from Sung Ryul held Ascol at 48-48.
The match once again vacillated towards Ascol when Kedar Budathoki converted
a free throw in the final minute of t he match. But Lincoln’s Fisler responded back
to tie the score and leave the match on balance once more.
Just a it seemed the game would stretch on for added time, Sung Ryul brought
a loud cheer from the Lincoln bench in the dying seconds of the match. Taking possession
of the ball at the centre, he sneaked through the Ascol defense to give a 50-52 win and a
place in the last four.
Earlier, Lincoln started promisingly with Bill Warren making easy
conversions, but Ascol Juniors responded back in more comprehensive fashion with straight
four points. The first quarter saw Lincoln boys taking a slender lead 11-10. With a loud
partisan crowd behind them, Ascol Juniors put pressure on Lincoln, who were without their
striker duo Rishi Robertson and Mike Zimmernan, to lead by 25-20 at half time.
The beginning of the third quarter saw Lincoln slip further. Their sloppy
defence allowed Ascol to add 13 points while they could only manage 6. That eventually
decided the fate of the match.
Earlier, Ace Institute of Management (AIM) thrashed Unique ‘A’
65-26. AIM’s Sampten O’Sullivan netted 26 points. Samip Thapa also came good,
contributing 10 points.
Likewise, in the day’s other quarterfinal, 10’ers boys defeated
Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 41-32. Nirmal Gurung of 10’ers netted 11 points.
The semifinals will be played on best of three format on Wednesday with
Lincoln School taking on 10’ers in the first match and Gyanodaya meeting AIM in the
other.
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