The Hindu : Sport : Punjab hoopsters lift Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Trophy

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Saturday, May 12, 2007
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Punjab hoopsters lift Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Trophy

Sports Correspondent

TRIUMPHANT: The Punjab team that won the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Trophy on Friday. — Photo: N. Rajesh

Tuticorin: Punjab lifted the Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Trophy after emerging the winner in men's section of the first All India basketball tournament, organised by Tuticorin District Basketball Association and Tuticorin Basketball Club, at Tharuvai Stadium here on Thursday.

Punjab lost to Indian Army, Delhi 81-84 in the last match of the super-league. This led to a three-way tie among Indian Army, Tamil Nadu and Punjab — all with four points (2 wins and a loss).

Punjab emerged winner on a better quotient (1.1773) and Tamil Nadu finished runner-up with 0.9338. Indian Army was third (0.9324) and the winless Vijaya Bank, Bangalore finished last.

The Punjab-Army tie proved interesting as both the teams played at their best. Sathish Kumar and Rajesh basketted fluently for Army, while Preetinder Singh and Mishra were equally good for Punjab.

Changing leads

The leads changed often. Indian Army had a slender 15-14 lead at the end of the first half, while Punjab was ahead 36-35 at the interval. The third quarter score also moved neck-to-neck before Army led 58-54.

In the fourth, the teams accelerated the scoring, at the same time tightening the defence. Punjab levelled at 75, thanks to Mishra's basket, with 5 minutes to go. However, Sathish Kumar's three baskets took Army into an 81-75 lead. Punjab was not finished yet and it soon trailed only by two points.

Army's Rajesh converted a free throw but Varinder Singh's basket with 12 seconds to go saw Punjab reduce the gap and be just a point behind (81-82).

Navneet does it

It was anybody's game at this stage and amidst the great tension and excitement, Navneet Singh fired a basket for Army with six seconds to go and clinch the issue at 84-81.

Soman Roy, Chief General Manager, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, gave away the prizes in the presence of A.P.C.V. Chockalingam, secretary, VOC Education Trust. V.V.D. Bremanandam, president, TDBA welcomed the gathering. Mr. D.R. Balamurugan, secretary proposed a vote of thanks.

Special awards: Men: Forward: Rajesh (IA); Defence: John D'Plato (TN); Point guard: Varinder Singh (Punjab); Centre-player: Subbaiah (IA); Promising Youngster: Sathish Kumar (IA); Player of the tournament: Preetinder Singh (Punjab).

Women: Forward: Adhirai (S.Rly); Defence: Geo Blesson (Central.Rly); Point Guard: Lincy Joseph (W.Rly); Centre-player: Ivy Jackson (W.Rly); Promising Youngster: Anjana (KSEB); Player of the tournament: Kokila (S.Rly).

The results: Indian Army 84 (Sathish Kumar 26, Rajesh 16, Navaneet Singh 14) bt Punjab 81 (Preetinder Singh 27, M.K. Mishra 13).

SAI in semifinals

SAI, Chennai entered the semifinals of the 42nd Maulana Abulkalam Azad memorial Trophy All India football tournament after trouncing Tuticorin District Football Association Presidents'XI 4-0 at Kayalpatnam on Friday.

Ilanmurugan (16th min), Siva (46th), Ilamurugan (52nd) and Selva Kumar (72nd) were the scorers

Customs in final

Chennai Customs entered the final of the 24th Champion Club football tournament for Universal Trophy, defeating the defending champion, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai 1-0

at Velangudi near Karaikudi on Friday. Ashok scored off a spot kick in the 67th minute.

ICF was definitely unlucky to lose as the woodwork came to the rescue of Customs three times. ICF was on the attack straight from the start and Ramesh's powerful shot (17th min), Venkatesh's shot (25th) and Jegan (Jr)'s attempt in the 49th minute all found the crosspiece and rebounded.

However in the 67th minute, the Customs forwards, in a combined move, went inside the ICF box, where defender Karthik handled the ball. Ashok made no mistake.

Though ICF was in full cry for the equaliser, the Customs defence did not give way.

AGORC in last eight

AGORC, Chennai entered the quarterfinals of the tenth annual Kothaiammal memorial Trophy State-level hockey tournament, defeating Mount Star Hockey Club, Chennai 3-0, at Vadipatti on Friday. The other team to enter the quarterfinals were, Halls HC, Chennai, Reserve Line Sports Club and Thirunagar Hockey Club.

The results: Pre-quarterfinals: Reserve Line SC 2 (Soundarapandian 2) bt Dominic memorial HC, Chennai 0; Thirunagar HC 1 (Solai Anburaj) bt Hockey Talent Development centre, Vadipatti 0; AGORC, Chennai 3 (Suresh, Anbu, Gopi(Jr)) bt Mount Star HC, Chennai 0; Halls HC, Chennai 7 (Dinesh 3, Fernanodes, Suresh, Naveen, Suresh Babu) bt Sivagangai HC 0.

Second round: Mount Star HC 5 (Deepak 2, Saravanan, Clement, Gerald) bt Ramanathapuram DHA 1 (Ganesh); Reserve Line SC 4 (Soundarapandi, Radhakrishnan, Muthukrishnan, Sathishkumar) bt SSOS Sankari 3 (Dinesh Raja 2, Prem Prakash 1).

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