The B division women’s final of the 10th Mercantile Services Basketball Knockout Championship was played yesterday at Hendry Pedris Basketball Complex. Seylan Bank emerged victorious beating David Peiris Motor Company when the score board read 85-46 at full time.
The match commenced sharp at half past five with the traditional jump ball start. Even though the bankers had the first possession they were unable to convert it to points. DPMC drawing first blood scored in the very next possession and led the game 2-0. Shivalaingam squared the score-board with a post move and got Seylan Bank back in the game. Both the teams played a man-to-man defense strategy and both the teams did well in their defense. Even though the defense was tight the rebound factor of the DPMC outfit was not up to the expectations and it was fair enough as they could not contest with Shivalingam who was as tall as a Kangaroo; but yet they should have put some more effort in it. Both the teams took a fair amount of chances at the basket and they did well in connecting them as well. Starting the game off with an intense quarter Seylan Bank led the game by just one point 20-19 when the first ten minutes ended.
Thalagala; skipper of the bankers who was the most experienced player out of all the ten players on the floor started ticking the score board for the second quarter. A back to back three pointer from Kamani extended the lead from five points and they led the game 25-19 with eight minutes to go down. It was a simple game plan in offense for the bankers as what they all had to do was pass the ball onto Shivalingam and she would do the rest. There was no player on the opposition who could have contested her in both offense and defense. Even though DPMC got to a boosting start, they lost their cause towards the middle of the game. Seylan Bank scored twenty four points in the quarter while DPMC managed only thirteen points. The game was halted for lemons when the bankers led the game by ten points. 
Half Time – Seylan Bank – 42 DPMC – 32
The third quarter commenced leaving a lot of catching up for the DPMC to do. But with pressure mounting on them, they were unable to connect the shots from the arc. The slow momentum in shifting themselves from offense to defense cost them the game. Seylan Bank capitalizing on the mistakes started passing the ball wide across the court and opted for fast breaks. Skipper Thalagala who was quick on her feet eased passed the defenders continuous times and extended the lead. Seylan Bank scored fifteen points in the quarter while DPMC managed only eight points.
Shivalingam who was the top scorer of the match scored thirty six points in the game while skipper of bankers scored thirty one points and ended up in the second slot. Shalika Gomez was the highest scorer for the DPMC outfit as she managed twenty four points. Seylan Bank scored twenty six points in the final quarter while DPMC managed only six.
Full Time – Seylan Bank – 85 DPMC – 46
