JAIPUR: Services lived dangerously in the final minute before holding off a resolute Kerala 84-79 to win the men's National basketball title, after a gap of more than two decades, here on Thursday. Services last triumphed in 1985.

Feeder Sambhaji Kadam and shooter Dalip Kumar made all the difference as they combined well in the crucial moments after Kerala had taken a one-point lead with 36 seconds remaining on the clock in the final.

Close contest

For the whole of 40 minutes, Services and Kerala stayed shoulder-to-shoulder — 15-16 in the first quarter, 36-38 after the second and 55-54 in the third.

Starting the final quarter at 55-54, Services conceded the lead with R. Manoj scoring a three-pointer. Jairam Jat and Kadam came up with two baskets each to open up a 70-65 before Subash J. Shenoy scored on free throws to put Kerala 79-78 ahead.

Fate sealed

Jairam broke free on Kadam's pass and made it 80-79 for Services, before Dalip sealed the fate with a two-pointer. Dalip earned a free throw with 12 seconds left on the clock and Services' win was imminent.

Punjab defeated former champion Uttaranchal 85-82 in an engaging match for the third position.

In the women's section, Railways registered its third straight title win, defeating Delhi 86-70 without giving any hint of complacency. Star-studded Delhi could Railways only in the first quarter.

Chhattisgarh finished third beating Punjab 63-60.

The results:

Men: Final: Services 84 (Jairam Jat 21, Dalip Kumar 19, Arockia Babu 13, Sambhaji Kadam 11) bt Kerala 79 (T.S. Abhilash 30, K. Hareesh14, Monish Wilson 11, Subash Shenoy 10). Third place: Punjab 85 (Dilawar Singh 18, Jagdeep Singh 10, Yadvinder Singh 10, Mahesh Misra 10) bt Uttaranchal 82 (Suresh Kumar Ranot 21, Murali Krishna R. 20, Desraj 15).

Semifinals: Kerala 99 (Subhash Shenoy 27, K. Hareesh 26, R. Manoj 14, Monish Wilson 12) bt Uttaranchal 75 (Murli Krishna 16, Desraj 16, Suresh Kumar Ranot 11, S. Sridhar 15).

Women: Final: Railways 86 (Geethu Anna Jose 35, Geo Blessen 18, Manisha Dange 11) bt Delhi 70 (Divya Singh 20, Prashanti Singh 14, Shiba Maggon 10). Third place: Chhattisgarh 63 (Aakanksha Singh 17, Bharti Netam 11, V. Nisha 10) bt Punjab 60 (Paramjit Kaur 20).

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