The nineteenth match of the Carlton Basketball Championship 2014 was played between Avant Garde BC and Colombo BC in front of a packed house at the Hendry Pediris Basketball Complex.
Philip Vukosarljevic retaining the title as the highest point scorer of the tournament played valuable minutes when he scattered the Colombo BC defence and made them wave farewell to their unbeaten streak. At full time scoreboard read in favour of Avant Garde BC 73-65.
Colombo BC coming in as the favourites of the game drew first blood of the game and had a four-zero run when Sudesh Ahmed and Harshdeva Silva swished the nets at ease. Philip Vukosarljevic`s quick hustle to the ball earned Avant Garde BC a turnover and they got the scoreboard ticking on from there. Both the teams playing at their best were defending the zones in a sagging man-to-man defence. The rebounds during the first ten minutes were heavily contended by both the sides but Colombo BC got the better of it which made the difference in offence as they always had a second chance. Avant Garde BC penetrated through the defence which drew fouls in favour of themselves which helped to stay in the game although Colombo BC finished the quarter with a ten point lead.
Colombo BC using the experience within the outfit scored fifteen points during the second quarter which increased their lead in the game by eleven points. Philip Vukosarljevic had to spend his minutes in the bench during this quarter and the Colombo boys capitalised on it and scattered the defence by passing wide across the floor for fast breaks which got the scoreboard ticking. The Avanat Garde BC never showed signs in shifting of gears to this game situation even with multiple timeouts called in favour of them. Living up to the prayers of the spectators Colombo BC closed down for lemons when the scoreboard read eleven points ahead.
(Half Time – Avant Grade BC – 29 Colombo BC – 40)
The first ten minutes after lemons started up with a six-zero run in favour of Avant Garde BC which closed down the deficit. Avant Garde, doing exactly what the doctor prescribed squared the game when Philip Vukosarljevic swished the nets with a mid range jumper. Then the game was a tight one where either of the teams could not afford to commit a mistake. Both the teams were equal in the rebound percentage during the third quarter which made the lead go back and forth and equalise at the same moment. The quick hustle to the ball by the Avant Garde BC was a highlighted feature during this quarter which shifted the momentum and changed the game. The buzzer beater swished the nets with a shooting foul which was later converted into points which made Avant Garde BC lead the game for the first time by three points when the quarter ended.
The final ten minutes commenced with Colombo BC putting in their efforts to save the game in order to remain unbeaten in the tournament. With pressure piling up the sleeves, the usual performance of the game by them was not there to be witnessed. Uncertain passing down the floor resulted in turnovers which were converted into points at the other end which helped the Avant Garde BC to take the game out of reach. The offensive game of the Colombo BC was fully dismantled and was running out of options in order to close down the deficit. Avant Garde BC with two quick possessions in offence sealed the game and closed down the curtains of an unbeaten road for the oppositions.
(Full time – Avant Garde BC – 73 Colombo BC – 65)
