Stiff resistance by DFCC Group was not good enough as Sampath Bank edged out the former in the ‘A’ division final of the Ram Ratnavale Memorial MSBA Knockout Basketball Tournament, conducted by the Mercantile Basketball Association last Friday (26), at the MCA basketball courts, Colombo 7.

The tournament was held for the 7th consecutive year and 27 teams, divided into six groups, competed. Sampath, who are also known as Black Knights, were able to retain the ‘A’ division title as they were the champions of last year too.

Sampath Bank was led by Chamath Danawansa while the DFCC was led by Faisal Mohamed in the finals. It had a delayed start by nearly sixty minutes due to heavy rains. Both teams were unbeaten in the tourney and met each other for the first time.

In the beginning, it was Sampath who drew first blood to take a slender lead in the first quarter scoring 20-8. They could keep the momentum in the 2nd quarter as well leading 32-26.

But In the third quarter, DFCC were dominant somewhat and they went on to finish that segment of play 36-39. Gayan Meedeniya of DFCC netted 20 points. He also won the Most Outstanding Player award of the ‘A’ division and showed splendid display of basketball. At the end of the third quarter, DFCC were just ahead of Sampath.

But Sampath Bank bounced back strongly and at one stage in the 4th quarter, both teams were 44 each and a nail-biting end was on the cards.

But Mithila Abeygunasekara (12), Virantha Bastian (10) and Thisara Chathuranga (10) of Sampath continued with their fine netting habits just when their team wanted them and a few costly mistakes by the DFCC at the dying stages of the match turned the game towards Sampath. At the final whistle, the scores read 55-44 in favour of Sampath Bank.

Faizal Mohamed, captain of DFCC, played a good supporting role for Meedeniya scoring 11 points. Abeygunasekara of Sampath was awarded the Man of the Final.

Meanwhile in the women’s final of the ‘A’ division which was played earlier, the defending champions Seylan Bank outplayed HNB by seven points to retain the women’s title.

It was HNB who led in the first quarter 13-12. But Seylan bounced back and at the breather, they were leading 26-23. Seylan Bank players, who were well in front in taking rebounces than the rival HNB players, posted their fine win by 50-43 by the final whistle to successfully defend the women’s coveted title.