The 51st Senior National Basketball Tournament will commence on the 2nd of February 2017 and will go on for a span of two weeks, where 46 teams divided in three categories will compete against each other for supremacy. Navy SC will be competing in the Level I, only in the men`s category.
Preview: Airmen and women to fly high
The 51st Senior National Tournament will commence on the 2nd of February 2017 and will go on for a span of two weeks,where 46 teams divided in three…
The Team’s performance in the recent past
– Otters’ 5 a side 2016 – Champions
– 50th Senior Nationals (2015) – Quarter-Finalists
– Defense services (2016) – 2nd Runner-up
Sri Lanka Navy is in a rebuilding phase having lost two key players in Charith Perera and Dhanuka Muthukuda arachchi to Colombo BC and Bulls BC respectively. The Sailors have hit a rough patch, not having performed as well as they used to before, failing to even enter the finals of the defense services 2016 after winning it 3 times in a row before.
Skipper Nipun Lahiruwan speaking to ThePapare.com said “The team is going through a transition period where we have lost some key players and have performed poorly in the last few tournaments. But we are doing everything possible within our capacity to make sure our team is ready for this tournament. Although our main focus is on getting the team ready to win the defense services next year, we are most definitely going into this tournament to win the title. We have been scouting for and recruiting young talent at the School level and now have a team which will definitely give a good fight in the up-coming senior nationals.”
After bidding farewell to the two heavy-weights, the pressure has landed on Asanka and Pasindu who will perform their duties for the team in the position of the post. The strategy for Sri Lanka Navy for this season will be spreading the floor on offense and letting the 3-ball fly since they do not possess heavy presence in the post.
Coach Narius Stanley speaking with ThePapare.com said, “We’ve had to face a series of issues ahead of this tournament including losing out on a few key players and also the on-going renovation of the Navy basketball court. We have had little practice time due to court renovation but we do not want to be giving excuses but instead make sure we give it our everything at the senior nationals. I acknowledge we have been having a tough run over the last 2 years, but myself and the team are confident that we will be back on track soon”.
The team has some new faces and the team’s key players Buddhi Yasas, Nipun Lahiruwan and Asanka Mahesh will have to play their A-game if the sailors are to bounce back. Charith Perera`s younger brother Lahiru Perera will be wearing the Seamen’s uniform this season and expectations are high that he fills in the shoes of his elder brother.
Weaknesses of the Team
- Lack of experience
- Lack of winning momentum
- Lack of a heavy Post presence
Strengths of the Team
- Team defense
- Fast break points
- 3 Point shooting
Photos: 51st Senior Nationals 2017 | Sri Lanka Navy Men’s Basketball Team
Team Navy Line-up
Nipun Lahiruwan, Asanka Mahesh, Palitha Sanjaya, Lakshitha Jayamaha, Ravichandra Kishan, Buddhi Yasas, Anushka Perera, Henrixan, Sahan Duvindu, Lahiru Perera, Pasindu Rasanjana, Sanjaya Dasanayake, Nerius Stanley (Head Coach) Uditha Niranjan (Assistant Coach).
