Gateway College led the game by eight points at the end of the third quarter yet two of the key players inexplicably taking their places back on the bench put the AIS boys ahead in the game during the final one and a half minutes and hence the six point difference in the score card. 62-68 in favor of AIS.
Turning Point
Even though Gateway College did not get into one of the best starts they settled themselves into the game and played good minutes of basketball bouncing back into the game, as they led the game by eight points at the end of the third quarter.
Stepping into the final quarter they maintained consistency until the last two minutes when fate decided to swap the outcome of the game. Two of the key players of the Gateway outfit had to sit out in the bench and AIS capitalising on it etched the winning line to be crowned triple champions for the year 2015.
Pasan Liyanage found his seat on the bench as he was fouled out and Nichula made his way back out of court due to an injury. Pasan and Nichula played almost ninety percent of the game. Coach should have decided to substitute him when he had three fouls under his name.
With both the key players sitting out of the game it wasn’t much of an ask for in form AIS team to ambush the lead and conquer it with pride. Skipper Bevan Samuel pulling a rabbit out of the hat swished the nets as he converted free throw chances into points. Saving the last bit of ammunition, AIS scored in back to back possessions as they cut down the lead and flew away out of reach leading the game by six more points.
Stats Don’t Lie
AIS led the game by two points at the end of the first quarter 17-15. Coming into the second quarter they added another twenty two points into the game leading the game by five points at halftime. Gateway College added nineteen points as the scorecards read 39-35 at lemons.
The game was squared 42-42 with just three minutes to go in the quarter. Coming into the third quarter Gateway bounced back coming up with their best offense as they clicked as a team. AIS played a slow game in comparison to the first half. Gateway College scored seventeen points in reply to the AIS`s nine points. They led the game by four points houding their counterparts with pressure.
AIS capitalised on the mistakes of the Gateway outfit as they outscored them with twenty points to ten during the final quarter. Even though AIS did miss four free throws at a stretch the final six points were added through back to back possessions.
Bottom Line
It is simple Basketball sense to substitute your key player when he has three fouls on his cards. AIS was continuously penetrating into the defense and it was evident that the remaining two fouls will be drawn in no time that would be the end of play for Pasan. If Pasan was rested during the third quarter and given the chance to play during the final five minutes the story could have been a much different one.
For Nichula too the same plot could have been followed as Gateway did have the upper hand in the game until the final four minutes of the game.
Full time – Asian International School – 68 Gateway College – 62
ThePapare.com player of the finals – Bevan Samuel (Aisan Internstional School)
