UA beats DFCC in Mercantile Services Basketball Association “A” Div. League Tournament final

Union Assurance PLC performing the charge of the light brigade in the last quarter, pulled off an unexpected 55/50 win over the fancied DFCC Group in the Mercantile Services Basketball Association “A” division League Tournament Final played at the Otter AC Courts, under lights, last Friday.

DFCC, who got off to a cracking start led 16/7 at the end of the first quarter and maintained the same speed to have commanding 28/16 lead at half time.

Union Assurance with an improved performance at the turnaround reduced the lead at the end of the third Quarter (32/35)

UAL Skipper, Roshan Randima  (16) and the robust, Udayanga Perera (16) led the charge in the  last quarter  to wrest the  lead and made their final trust in the last five minutes of the game  to gain their first major Mercantile Basket ball  title.

Skipper, Gayan Meedeniya (13) and Thivanka Perera (13) were the top shooters for DFCC.

Udayanga Perera (UA) was picked as the Man-of-the-Final and Gayan Meedeniya (DFCC) was adjudged as the Man-of-the – tournament.

In the Women’s “A” division final played prior to the men’s final, HNB led by Umanga de Soysa beat NTB 50/47, after leading 19/18 at half time.

Kumarini Silva (15) and Dilani Fernando (10) were the top scorers for HNB,  while  Shanika Jayaseker  (15), Wathsala Dananjali  (15) and Nisansala

Hewalunuwilage (12) played a tireless game for NTB.

Anjali Ekanayake (HNB) was picked as the Woman-of –the –tournament.

Results of the other finals (all men)

“E” division: Amana Group beat Freight Services Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd., 55/38. Best Player – Rizly Ramblan  (Frieght Services)

“D” Division:  Seylan Bank beat Nations Trust Bank 66/60; Best Player – Gayan Samaraweera   (Seylan)

“C” division: Standard Chartered Bank beat LB Finance 61/54; Best Player – Rishan Yoosuf   (SCB)  

“B” division: Commercial Credit beat Sri Lankan Airlines 70/59; Best Player – Harshadeva de Silva (Com. Credit)

At the Post Tournament presentation, the Chief Guest NTB Executive Director Sarath Piyaratne,  along with Patron/MSBA Nishantha Wickramage and MSBA President Brawin Fernando, gave  away the awards.