The third match of the A division Mercantile Knockout Basketball Championship was played yesterday at Otters Basketball Court between MAS and Commercial Credit. Commercial Credit advanced into tournament semi-finals beating MAS 47-56 at full time.
The game commenced when clock struck seven on the dot with a slight drizzle over the court. Harshadewa doing what he does the best scored off the jump ball and got the early start for Commercial Credit 2-0. With rain pouring down it was a tough ask for both the teams to drive in and make the shots. The book of theory suggests that players should pass the ball and play the game with set shots and both the teams were doing just exactly that. Commercial Credit having more experience and potential than the MAS team won the battle at the end of first ten minutes in ease. All five players of the Commercial Credit outfit chipped themselves in rebounding which did not happen from the opponents. Key player of MAS; Sudesh Pavia was held down well by Gayan De Croos at the post since the post up plays were turned over and scored by the Commercial Credit. Harshadewa and Kanishka settling in the game early scored most of the points for the Commercial Credit as they lead the quarter 13-09.
Commercial Credit always maintained a higher shooting percentage than the MAS outfit so opting of shots outside the arc was not well controlled by the MAS lads. Gayan De Cross and his fellow team mate Rajitha continued to hold Sudesh as they were doing in the first quarter. As Sudesh was held down back in the post, Andrew and the rest of the team mates had to do to their part in scoring. Andrew scoring in three consecutive possessions, squared the game and the got the lead back in the side. MAS scored ten points in the quarter while Commercial Credit managed twelve. Former Sri Lankan skipper Harshadewa settling himself down with national cap Sanjeewa Kulumina scored off from shots outside the arc and the sagging man-to-man defense of the MAS lads was not paying off.
Half Time – MAS – 19 Commercial Credit – 25
Rain still pouring down as the second half of the game commenced, it was still a matter of passing and connecting the set shots; it was anyone’s game to take back home. Sudesh was in desperate need to settle himself in the game and his experience in the game helped him. Beating Gayan De Croos a couple of times, he started scoring for MAS in the third quarter. MAS shifting the gears up played a fast game in comparison to the first two quarters and Commercial Credit did not handle the pace well. MAS scored twenty two points in the quarter while Commercial Credit managed only thirteen. While passing the ball around MAS lads tried to drive in which brought about a fair amount of fouls and they converted them into points at the line which squared the game with five three minutes to run down in the quarter. MAS bought themselves back into the game brilliantly doing exactly what the doctor has prescribed during the ten minute half time break. They led the game at the end of the quarter 41-38.
The final ten minutes of the game commenced with a three point MAS lead. The rain had stopped by then but the wet boards did not help the shooters take shots off the board. It was a tough ask for the rebounders to do their job as the ball bounced back in no proper direction after hitting the ring. Commercial Credit tightening screws in their defense played the half-court and the full-court press at regular intervals in the quarter where MAS failed to rattle it through. The game was assassinated silently by the Commercial Credit lads through a couple of three pointers and post up players. Khanishka coming in as the point guard passed the ball around and created play after play for the commercial credit lads to score. Gayan De Croos, Sanjeewa Kulumina and De Sliva playing decisive minutes secured the game for them.
Full time – MAS – 47 Commercial Credit – 56
ThePapare.com player of the match – Gayan De Croos (Commercial Credit)
