The Hindu : Sport / Basketball : IOB, S. Railway emerge champions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 31, 2004

Sport

Sport - Basketball

IOB, S. Railway emerge champions

By Our Sports Reporter

COIMBATORE, MAY 30. In a match filled with twists and turns, Indian Overseas Bank (Chennai) bounced back from a 14-point deficit at the half way mark to score a 76-73 win over Oil and Natural Gas Commission (Dehradun) to lift the Nachimuthu Gounder Cup in the 46th All India basketball tournament for men at the VOC Park Corporation sports complex courts on Sunday.

The efforts of the ageing Swaminathan and young recruit Ravikumar, who scored three shots and converted one free throw in the dying minutes of the game, turned the tide in IOB's favour.

IOB scored in the very first minute of the game, but slipped to a 36-50 deficit after the second quarter. Nishant was the man in form for ONGC, scoring 16 points.

The Chennai team tightened the defence in the third quarter and Robinson, who was not so successful in the earlier league matches, too came good scoring points at will. It was Robinson, in fact, who gave IOB the lead with a bold lay-up in the fourth minute of the final quarter.

With eight seconds left, IOB controlled the rebounds and froze the ball to win the thriller of a contest at the whistle. Robinson top-scored with 26, while Chandrasekhar and Sugavaneshwar scored 14 points apiece.

The Renuka Ramanathan Memorial Fair Play Award went to ONGC.

Earlier in the day, Southern Railway (Chennai) scored a 66-51 win over Central Railway to lift the CRI Pumps Trophy for women, thanks to the scintillating performances from Geethu Anna Jose (23), P. Anitha (14), M. Meenalatha (13) and Renjini Peter (12).

The results (finals): Men: IOB bt ONGC 76-73.

Women: S. Railway bt C. Railway 66-51.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport