Rewind 365 days and you’ll find one of the most humiliating moments in Basketball history at S.Thomas’. Royal romped to a record setting 55-11 win at the very shores of the school by the sea with the hosts managing their first points halfway through the 3rd quarter.
Bitter was the humiliation that it was compounded by the Royalists pleading the Thomians to make a score and show some fight.
When these two sides meet for the D.S.Senanayaka Memorial Trophy at the 12th Annual Encounter on the 18th of October at Royal College the past will still linger on the minds of both sides.
In the first 7 years since its inception in 2002, the Thomians were dominant to say the least, winning the first 7 years consecutively. In 2010, Royal College clinched the trophy for the first time and has won consecutively since.
From trials and jubilation
The Royal College team seems to be pumped and promises a repeat show at this year’s encounter for the D.S. Senanayake memorial trophy. Last year’s defeat would be bitter memories left well in the shadows for the Thomian camp but for Juliyan Gunasinghe the Royal skipper it was a grin of pride when reminiscing.
“We have been practicing really hard and our boys have been giving everything they have at practice and with the hard work we have put in we are confident that we can win this year’s encounter and make the tally 5-7” said Gunasinghe also commenting that these young school boys have put aside all extra activities to attend training daily for 2 months straight.
For the Thomian vice-captain Dion Ferdinands and his team the memories has taught lessons and drives them to perform their guts out.
“We haven’t forgotten last year. This year we’ll make the wrongs of last year right. The guys have been practicing vigorously under Coach Supun Wimal and are up for the challenge.” Ferdinands added.
Royal College BasketBall Team
Royal looking for a season three-peat
During the season when the school from Cinnamon gardens met their longtime rivals they ended victorious at both the Zonal’s and the ‘A’ division tournaments consecutively.
“Winning the 3rdmatch is always the hard part so we are really focused to win this” noted Juliyan.
Although the boys from Reid Avenue haven’t particularly had a dream season where they failed to capitalize at the major tournaments held this year reaching the quarter finals they seems to be fully focused on the game at hand this weekend.
“We have had a good season. Reached the top four in the Zonal’s and did well in the ‘A’ division tournament. Yes we did lose to Royal twice this season but we’ll do everything it takes not to let it happen a third time.” a determined Thomian vice captain stated.
Fresh from his victorious goalkeeping heroics at the Dr.R.L.Hayman Trophy Kosala Wijewardena will once again be trusted to re create his brilliance alongside Dion Ferdinands while rookie Mathew Senn, who was awarded the Most Valuable Player award at the Trinity-Thomian Encounter, could pose a few headaches to Royal at the offensive end.
St.Thomas’ College BasketBall Team
Freshers v Experience
Experience will play a key part in Royal’s game boasting of 8 coloursmen while S.Thomas’ will look to their freshers to provide that added spark.
“We’ve lost last year’s captain Michael Alphonsus and vice Captain Ashvindh Wilson as well as Ramitha and Ramal Hettiarachchi. However the new additions have stepped up and I’m sure they will provide the goods come this Saturday.” Ferdinands told ThePapare.com.
“We have a very balanced team which I believe is a better experienced team in comparison to S.Thomas’ in terms of Roy-Tho experience” said the only Sri Lanka schools player Juliyan who also took on the duties of vice-captain in the national squad.
“Handling the pressure is the hardest part in a Roy-Tho, the crowd and interferences; it’s not something usual in everyday basketball matches in Sri Lanka”.
Royal College has 6 of these first timers whom the captain says, “they gelled really well and the reason we took them in was due to the positions they play which we had to fill up from last year’s open slots. I have to give credit to them as it wasn’t easy for them to gain a position in the top 15 because there were tough selection decisions and competition among them”.
“This is the last match I’m playing for Royal College, so it means a lot to me. Captaining the college team means much more while, it has always been a dream to me to remain as a winning captain of the Royal Thomian” added a very emotional Gunasinghe.
As with any Royal Thomian encounter this too will be one filled with excitement, true talent, raw emotions, camaraderie and friendly rivalry so be there on Saturday the 18th of October at the Royal College Basketball courts to see the action unravel.
The Royal College Team is as follows;
1.Juliyan Gunasinghe(Captain)
2.Shamaaz Shiraz (Vice-Captain)
3.Raidh Ramzee
4.Ragu Rakavan
5.Mohommed Zahir
6.Ranmith Nanayakkara
7.Gevindu Gunathilake
8.Visal Pinto
9.Rishitha Vedasinghe
10.Manisha Dissanayake
11.Dilshan Menuka
12.Charutha Sonnadara
13.Nisal Batugedara
14.Tharindu Balasuriya
15.Rukshan Attapatthu
The S.Thomas’ College Team is as follows;
1.Ashan Goonesinghe (Captain)
2.Uwin Gunarathne (Vice Captain)
3.Dion Ferdinands (Vice Captain)
4.Senura Gunadasa (Secretary)
5.Maithri Pathirana
6.Minura Mendis
7.Dhinara Peiris
8.Kosala Wijewardena
9.Adrian Gunawardane
10.Mathew Senn
11.Senal Kotuwegoda
12.Akila Rathnayake
Catch the action live on www.thepapare.com
