Josephians win All-Island U20 Division ‘A’ basketball title

Champion Josephian team (from right): Assistant Coach Shane Daniel, Head Coach Randima Sooriyaarachchi, Adrian Wijayawardana, Darren Bernard, Maneth Perera, Raphael Suraweera, Charaka Perera, Keith Costa, Prefect of Games Rev. Fr. Priyan S. Tissera, Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, Masters Basketball Association President and Gaja Holdings CEO Gayath Jayasinghe, Vice Captain Shannon de Zilva, Methika Jayasinghe, Abhaya Gajamange, Kevin Perera, Kavin D’Almeida, Mareen Abishek, Captain Shehan Fernando, Divine Valerian, and Master-in-Charge Hemal Fernando 

St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 emerged victorious at the All-Island Under-20 Division ‘A’ Basketball Championship 2022 for boys organised by the Sri Lanka School’s Basketball Association and sponsored by Gaja Sports.

The final was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium witnessed by a large gathering of basketball fans. The all- island schools’ tournament was held after a lapse of three years due to the COVID-19

pandemic.

The Josephians came into the tournament as favourites and they lived up to expectations from the word ‘go’ as they cruised through the group stages defeating Gateway College Kandy 60-38, Mahinda College Galle 75-38, Angel International School Jaffna 75-32 and LPF Academy Dehiwala 90-38 points.

The Josephians displayed some superior level of basketball in both offence and defence right throughout the group stage stamping their authority and moving to the knockout stage. In the quarterfinals the Joes scored a hard fought 62-57 win, but in the semi-finals against DS Senanayake College and the final against Royal College Colombo they scored facile victories. They beat DSS 87-36 and Royal 68-52.

The winning Josephian team was led by Shehan Fernando with Keith Costa excelling in the offensive play and Shannon De Zilva in the defensive game. Fernando was adjudged the Most Valuable Player and Keith Costa was awarded the Best Offensive Player.

The Josephian support crew comprised Head Coach Randima Sooriyaarachchi (former national captain), Coach Shane Daniel and skills development coach Praneeth Udumalgala under whose captaincy St joseph’s won the under 19 title in 2012. Over 50 teams took part in the tournament in five divisions for boys and girls.