Carlton Cup 2012 Basketball Championship progresses

The 45th and 46th games of the Carlton Cup 2012 Basketball Championship took center stage on 7 November 2012 at the Henry Pedris basketball courts, Colombo. The 45th game was played between the Wattala basketball team and the Red Line Club Maldivies (RLC) basketball team.

This was a historical occasion in the Sri Lankan basketball circuit as this was the first match the RLC team participated in, and was also the first time an overseas team participated in a Sri Lankan club basketball tournament.

It was a seesaw battle throughout the entire match until the very end when the Wattala team snatched victory in the final second of the game. The game was a thriller and undoubtedly the most dramatic game in the tournament so far.

At halftime, the Wattala team 27-25. However, scores were deadlocked at 56 points until the final second of the match, at which point the Wattala players found the basket in the final play of the match. The final score was 58-56 with Wattala winning by two points.

The most prolific performer for the losing RLC team was Ahamed Najeel with 20 points while Kevin Vivakshan was the top points scorer for the winners with 11 points. It was a team effort made by the Wattala basketball team as they kept up their hopes of reaching the playoffs.

 The second match for the day, match number 46, was conducted between the Old Bens basketball team and the Sri Lanka Navy basketball team. This was also a hard fought contest as both teams refused to give up an inch to the other.

Both teams were very physical and defended as if their lives depended on it. At halftime, the sailors were the more dominant team as they led by eight points, with the score at 18-26. To the sailors’ credit, they upped their tempo and commitment in the second half of the match, yet the Old Bens team managed to hang in there to clinch the match by four points.

The final score on the score board was 55-51. Clinton Stallon starred for the Old Bens team with a noteworthy performance with 17 points while M.A.T.S. Bandara was the top points scorer for the sailors with 15 points.

The 49th and 50th matches of the championship were between the Otter Aquatic Club and the Sri Lanka Air Force team at the Henry Pedris basketball courts and the Old Thomians and the Old Senanayakians at the Police Park basketball courts respectively earlier this week.