The first semi- final of the tournament was played between Royal College vs St. Joseph`s College. Even though Joes did step in as the favourites, Reid avenue lads blindfolded their counterparts and emerged victorious as the scoreboard read 53-51.
Both the teams stepped in confidence with convincing victories in the quarter final stage. Royalists are one of the better shooting sides in the tournament having the ability to swish the nets from any position. Even though history suggests that, Kisal Cooray of the Joesphian outfit making way early into the game kept on testing the defense of the Reid avenue lads. Etching the rebounds and making sure to convert the turnovers into points he put his side ahead in the first quarter. Joes led the game eleven points to seven at the end of the maiden quarter.
Second quarter cut the game wide open as both the teams scored fifteen points each. Royal skipper Visal Pinto hitting his form penetrated into the defense and scored much needed points for outfit. Both the teams were opting for a zone defense and all ten players were satisfactory in it. Joes did have the better advantage of etching the rebounds with Kisal Cooray and Nathosh Wijendran performing at their best. The offense of the Royailsts was not one of the best you could expect. Failing to execute the strategy in the perfect manner, it made the offense a shaky one. Joes passing the ball around made sure every player got the touch of the ball and make way to the rim to swish the nets. Joes led the game by four points as the game was called off for lemons.
Half time – St. Joseph`s College – 26 Royal College – 22
After much needed ten minute break both the teams opted pass the ball wide across and shift the pace of the game. Kisal Cooray was up on his peak etching rebounds and it poured a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the counter parts. Rukshan and Visal getting their dancing shoes on put on an effort to ease the pressure in the offense. Both the players are top-notch three point shooters and it is something that has put the Royalists over the edge for quite sometime. Joes did find it hard to counter-attack the offense of the opponents during the third quarter and it was one preeminent point which affected the final scorecards.
The final six hundred seconds is always a close tussle but this time around it was a battle of life and dead. Joes committed three turnovers opting to pass wide around the court which swapped the fate of the game completely. Royalists capitalising made sure they converted them into points at the other end. The six points scored with in that couple of minutes put Royal College ahead and Joes was just out of luck close the deficit. Even though they did come back with shooting a couple outside the arc, the clock was not on their side. Royalists playing exactly as the doctor prescribed sealed the fate of Darley road boys at full time.
Joes will play the Thomians in the for the third place playoffs.
Full time – St. Joseph`s College -51 Royal College – 53
ThePapare.com player of the match – Visal Pinto (Royal College)
