Next door neighbours Mastan YMCA dominated hosts NBA (Nagpada Basketball Association) all the way to win the men’s final 57-41 in the NBA-16th Invitational State Level basketball tournament, at NNH’s floodlit courts last night. However, NBA, in turn, downed them 70-69 in the nail-biting youth boys final. Earlier, too, both Mastan YMCA (Under-16) and NBA (Ynder-13) overall shared the honours.
Mastan YMCA players make a happy picture after winning the men’s trophy in the NBA-16th Invitational State Level basketball tournament.
The men’s final though was a fast-paced affair, the players, especially from the hosts fumbled repeatedly under the offensive baskets, that led their opponents Mastan players, keeping ahead throughout the four quarters. But the youth boys final between the two turned out to be a thriller right till the end. Both attacked and counter-attack from the word go. The first quarter (19-19) itself gave the indication of closeness of the contest. The second and the third quarters too, were no different. While the fourth and deciding quarter saw hosts ahead by a solitary point(70-69) with just 7 seconds to go when Mastan earned a free throw, which to the consternation of their supporter missed the target as NBA heaved a sigh of relief to triumph.
However, Mastan YMCA stopped NBA’s under-16 team’s winning spree, by beating them 61-50 to clinch the under-16 title. But NBA bagged the under-13 final with a 67-39 win over Mastan YMCA boys.
Results of the finals MEN: Mastan YMCA 57 (Smasher Morani 12, Yusaf Khan 10) bt NBA 47 (Asraf Shaikh 10, Atif Khan 12).
Youth boys (U-21): NBA 70 (Meenaz Shaikh 18, Faiz Shaikh 12, Faureen Shaikh 10) bt Mastan YMCA 69 (Danish Qureshi 18, Ashraf Shaikh 18, Kehawnish Kabor 14).
Boys U-16: Mastan YMCA 61 (Sk. Raza 28, Ansari Misbah 14) bt NBA 50 (Fiaz Shaikh 20, Usman Khan 10).
Boys U-13: NBA 67 ( Shaikh Fiaz 28, Ismail Ansari 21) bt Mastan YMCA 39 (Saif Khan 12).