The preliminary stages of ThePapare Basketball Championship girls’ category ended with the top two schools in each group qualifying for the quarter-final stage. Here`s a detailed look at how the group stages went.
Quarter-Final 01: Holy Family Convent (HFC) v Good Shepherd Convent (GSC)
- Date & Time: 20th September 2018 – 2.30 PM
- Venue: Holy Family Convent – Colombo 04
Previous Games
Holy Family Convent
Holy Family Convent vs Colombo International School – 43-30
Holy Family Convent vs Ladies’ College – 59-21Good Shepherd Convent
Good Shepherd Convent vs St. Paul’s Girls School – 54-20
Lyceum International School Wattala vs Good Shepherd Convent – 75-39
HFC topped Group A having won both their group games while Good Shepherd Convent booked the second slot behind Lyceum International School – Wattala in Group C with one win and one loss under their belts.
This is sure to be a thriller of a quarter-final. It will be a battle between two of the best teams, who have had some great results in the past. Good Shepherd Convent emerged 2016 Champions while Holy Family Convent were second runners up in 2016 and Joint Champions in 2017.
Watch: Holy Family Convent Team for #TPBC18
HFC are the favorites stepping into the quarter-final battle but they have not encountered a tough opponent yet and so this match will definitely test them.
Watch: Good Shepherd Convent Team for #TPBC18
GSC on the other end are playing without the services of their Head Coach Susil Ududkumbura, who is on national duty. It will be tough going up against a side in sublime form but on their day, GSC can top the cards.
Quarter-Final 02: Colombo International School (CIS) v Lyceum International School – Wattala (LISW)
- Date & Time: 20th September – 4.00 PM
- Venue – Holy Family Convnet – Colombo 04
Previous Games
Colombo International School
Colombo International School vs Ladies’ College – 47-27
Holy Family Convent vs Colombo International School – 43-30Lyceum International School – Wattala
Lyceum International School (Wattala) vs St. Paul’s Girls School – 56-12
Lyceum International School (Wattala) vs Good Shepherd Convent – 75-39
LISW finished the 2017 championship in third place alongside Gateway College while CIS was knocked out at the group stages. LISW made a strong start to this year’s edition too, topping Group C with 2 wins while CIS were runners-up in Group A, losing their match against HFC.
Both the teams feature players who have represented Sri Lanka in both 3×3 and 5on5 formats in Leia Hamza (CIS), Lubna Morseth and Hazeena Abdul (LISW). All three players will be of utmost importance to how their respective teams fare not only in the quarterfinal but the tournament as a whole.
Watch: Lyceum International School Team for #TPBC18
Leia will look to create plays for CIS while finishing possessions as well. If Leia has adequate support from the team in offence, CIS could pose a serious threat to the opposition. LISW, will have Hazeena as their point guard and star center Lubna will handle the rest. For LISW, the team is accustomed to working around the two national players and will rally in both attack and defense.
Quarter-Final 03: Gateway College (GCC) vs Ave Maria Convent (AMC)
- Date & Time: 21st September – 2.30 PM
- Venue – Gateway College – Colombo
Previous Games
Gateway College
Gateway College vs Sirimavo Banadaranayake Vidyalaya – 58-33
Gateway College vs Presbyterian Girls School – 49 – 29Ave Maria Convent
St. Joseph’s Girls School vs Ave Maria Convent – 63-25
GCC ended the 2017 run in third place while AMC had to bow out at the group-stages. GCC managed to top Group B this time around, having won both their group-stage matches.
Watch: Gateway College Team for #TPBC18
AMC finished second in Group D having lost one match and receiving a walk-over in their second match with Dharmasoka College pulling out of the tournament.
The teams look to be evenly matched. AMC has the height and the strength to give GCC a good run for their money while the latter have pace on their side, that will help them run through the defense.
Watch: Ave Maria Convent Team for #TPBC18
What AMC lacks would be team coordination and knowing when to take shots and when to pass . GCC will have to grab the rebounds and use their pace to overcome the AMC defense.
Quarter Final 04: St. Joseph`s Girls School (SJGS) v Presbyterian Girls School (PGS)
- Date & Time: 21st September 2018 – 4.00 PM
- Venue – Gateway College – Colombo
Previous Games
St Joseph`s Girls School
St. Joseph’s Girls School vs Ave Maria Convent – 63-25Presbyterian Girls School
Presbyterian Girls School vs Sirimavo Banadaranayake Girls School – 37 – 32
Gateway College vs Presbyterian Girls School – 49 – 29
Another pairing that has done well in the tournament in the past, SJGS emerged Joint Champions in 2017 and also managed second place in 2016 championship while PGS finished 4th in 2016 and were quarter-finalists in 2017.
Watch: St. Joseph`s Girls School Team for #TPBC18
SJGS topped Group D having won their first match and receiving a walk-over in their second match against Dharmasoka. PGS finished second in Group B, with one win and one loss.
SJGS are certainly the favorites to win, with five national players in their lineup. Unlike the recent years, PGS doesn`t have much experience in their team as they are a young team still gathering experience. This will likely turn out to be a one-sided affair with SJGS scoring heavily.
