DFCC beats NTB, HNB overcomes Sampath in MSBA League Basketball

DFCC beat NTB and HNB overcame Sampath Bank in the on-going 26th Mercantile Services Basketball Association League tournament  A Division matches at the at the Edward Henry Pedris & Otter  AC  Courts.

 Following were the results of the Day 23 and 24 of the league.

Mens “A”  Division :

1.DFCC Bank trounced Nations Trust  Bank “A”, 83/58,  after leading 33/28 at  half time  ;  Prageeth Pushpakumara and Roshan Fernando  ( 19 points each) were in top form for DFCC ;  Manjula Jayaratne and Rukshan Fernando  (12 points each) scored for NTB “A”.

2.HNB scored a comprehensive  53/39 win over Sampath Bank, after leading 23/16 at half time;  Chalinda Fernando  (15)  and  Anushka Jayalath  (12)  top scored for the winners ;  Mithila Abeysekera  (11) scored to the losers 

Mens  “B” division :

     John Keells group, finished on top of their group,  as they edged out Dialog         Axiata,  53/51, after holding on to a one point lead  (26/25)  at half time ;  T.         Dharmasena  (17) and   L. Lakshan  (15) were the match winners for JKH ; V.             Kumarasinghe  (22) was the top scorer for Dialog. 

John Keells will now meet Sri Lankan Airlines “A”  in the 1st Semi –Final. Dialog Axiata will take on MAS Holdings “Reds” in the 2nd Semi Final.

Mens “C” division 

Kanrich Finance finished on top  of  their group, beating HSBC 53/39 after leading 23/16 at half time;  Charith Perera  (16) and M. Rajapaksa   (11)  top scored for Kanrich  

Kanrich Finance will meet HSBC once again, this time in the  1st Semi Final;  NDB Bank will take on LB Finance in the 2nd Semi Final.

Mens “D” Division 

1.Nations Trust Bank “B” scored an upset  60/57 win over Seylan Bank; after leading 33/28 at half time; Pramod Weerasinghe  (23) played a brilliant game for   NTB “B” ;  Gayan Samaraweera  (15)   played his heart out for Seylan .

Despite this defeat, Seylan Bank finished on top of  their Group and will meet Softlogic Group in the first Semi-Final; New comers, Union Bank will take on MAS Holdings  “Blacks” in the 2nd Semi Final.

2.Hirdramani Group beat LOLC, 66/60 after leading 31/23 at the breather ;  N. Niroshan  (33)  was in topping form  for Hirdaramani’s ;  Chathura Hewa  (24) & I. Nazir  (14)  played well for LOLC .  Both teams failed to qualify for the Semi Finals. 

Mens “E” Division 

1.Ceylon Tobacco Co. proved too strong for Copal Amba when they trounced them , 45/23,  after leading 16/8  at half time; C. Malwatte  (26) was Tobacco ‘s top shooter. 

2.New comers, Sarva Integrated  scored their historic first  win in the tournament,  beating UB Finance, 39/36 after leading 16/8 at half time;  Sajith Silva  (23) was the match winner for Sarva ;  Shammi Seneviratne  (16) & J. Gregory  (17) scored for UBF.