Sri Lanka registered three important wins in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 qualifying round in Singapore to secure their place in the preliminary round.
The stakes were high as Sri Lanka stepped onto the court for their first match against Indonesia on March 27th. With relentless determination, the Lions halted Indonesia’s efforts, clinching victory with a commanding scoreline of 21-14. Leading the charge was none other than Rukshan Athapaththu, whose stellar performance saw him notch an impressive 10 out of 21 points for the Lions.
Buoyed by their success, Sri Lanka took on Northern Mariana Islands on the same day. Once again, the Lions proved their mettle, overpowering their opponents with a final score of 21-13. Rukshan Athapaththu continued his scoring spree, contributing 9 crucial points to the team’s tally, while the rest of the squad chipped in with 4 points each.
On Wednesday morning, in a thrilling match against Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka secured a narrow 21-19 victory to mark their third consecutive victory in the qualifying rounds, making them champions of Group B. Athapaththu once again shone for the Lions with 13 points out of 21.
“The team played really well from the start, and everyone had a plan for what they were doing. Making fewer mistakes and having a good combination to fight those 3 teams were key factors in our victories.” Sri Lanka captain, Pawan Gamage, praised the cohesive effort, stating exclusively to ThePapare.
Next, Sri Lanka will face Mongolia and Thailand on 29th March (Friday) in the Preliminary round. With at least one win, they’ll advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 30th. Mongolia is seeded 2nd in the competition whilst Thailand is seeded 7th. 24 countries from Asia and Oceania are taking part in this competition.
The Lions’ impressive performance has the nation cheering as they continue their quest for glory.
