The first semi-final of the A Division Mercantile Services Basketball Knockout Championships was played yesterday at the Otters Basketball court between Commercial Credit and DFCC Bank Colombo. A robust second half performance by the DFCC Bank secured the game and advanced into the finals when the score board read 47-63 at full time.
The game commenced at seven on the dot with the traditional jump ball. As expected it was stiff game from the beginning of the first tap. Terrance Neydoff getting DFCC into an early start scored off a shot outside the arc and drew first blood. Game was squared in the very next possession by Harshadeva De Silva who swished the nets off a three pointer. Both the teams playing a 1-2-2 sagging defense strategy did not let either of the teams to settle down in their offence. As it was tight defense from either ends both the teams were in desperate need of improvising new offensive strategies. Timothy Nithushan doing exactly as they need penetrated through the Commercial Credit defense and scored multiple points through lay-in`s and lay-up`s. Gayan De Croos was yet to settle his feet for the Commercial Credit outfit hence the rebounds were not forthcoming. Harshadeva shooting off a mid-air jumper off the left elbow secured a one point lead at the end of the first quarter for Commercial Credit.
Harshadeva continuing his form started off the second quarter with a shot from downtown which swished the nets with ease. Both the teams were passing the ball wide across the court and playing a fast game. De Croos ruled the roost in the second quarter with his blocks as he tapped five blocks and halted ten points from the opposition. Timothy and Terrance continuing what they do best kept the scoreboard ticking. Harshadeva and Sinath did the same for Commercial Credit. DFCC scored thirteen points in the quarter while Commercial Credit scored fifteen points in the quarter. Sanjeewa Kulumina playing a shaky game had three fouls under his sleeve at the end of the quarter which put Commercial Credit in a spot of bother. The defense on an overall point of view was at its best during the first half of the game as you could witness not only the post players but even the forwards were contributing themselves in for the rebounds. As the game halted for the half time break Commercial Credit lead the game by three points.
Half time – Commercial Credit – 30 DFCC Bank – 27
It was anyone`s game to take back home as the third quarter commenced. Player’s fitness levels were in question throughout the tournament as there was an obvious lapse of performance in comparison with the first half. If DFCC was to win the game they needed to tighten their screws in defense and stop points at the other end and they did exactly that. Playing a sagging defense where each player helped the other player and created double team defense opportunities, DFCC halted many points of the Commercial Credit lads. Sanjeewa and Sinath did not seem to fit in too well playing the game with a couple of injuries and the job landed on De Croos which he couldn’t execute as expected. It was no doubt that he was the tallest out of the ten men on the court and it was questionable as to why he did not use his height to drive in and lay-in the ball. He is tall and when he went up in the air there was hardly anyone who could stop him. Commercial Credit managed only six points in the quarter while DFCC Bank scored eleven points and lead the game by nine points.
The final ten minutes of the game commenced and the body language of the Commercial Credit lads was not on the positive. Tired limbs of Harshadeva could not score for them and he sat out for around two minutes of the game which was crucial. De Croos was completely taken on by Timothy Nithushan`s brilliant execution of plays, as he made the tall lad look like a puppet. Srinath, Jared coming in for the DFCC bank passed the ball around and utilized the twenty four seconds well to score in every possession. Even with a comfortable lead DFCC played a half court press during the last four minutes of the game and it was questionable while the trailing team did not even think about it. With a robust second half performance from DFCC finished on top. It was felt as if Commercial Credit gave away the game too early as they did have the chance of securing the game and advancing into finals.
Full time – Commercial Credit – 47 DFCC Bank – 63
ThePapare.com player of the match – Timothy Nithushan (DFCC Bank)
