the goan I network
PANAJI
It was an all Maharashtra affair at the finals of the West Zone Basketball Championship 2018 at the Don Bosco Oratory, Panaji on Friday with both the men and women sealing the title in their favour to emerge as clear champions of the West.
In the women’s final, Maharashtra women were off to a flier, taking a 11 point lead at the start. The first and third quarters were the quick scoring ones with Rasika Pande scoring 26 points and Mugdha Amraotkar (14 points) in quick action. Maharashtra won the high scoring match 97-49. Naomi Lakhandal (10 points) and Shradda Patel (8 points) played well for Gujarat.
The men’s final between Maharashtra and Gujarat
saw a stiff game in the first two quarters, with
Gujarat just two baskets behind and ready for a
challenge with favourites, Maharashtra.
Even the third quarter was closely fought with just a
basket lead given to Maharashtra.
But the favourites kept the best moves for the last, changing the game to man-to-man and aggressive plays. Maharashtra won comfortable in the end 87-63.
V M Prabhudessai, director of SAG was the chief guest.
Other dignitaries present were M Venkatesh (BFI development programs), the
convener of the event; Shakti Sinh Gohil (president GSBA) and joint secretary BFI; Girish Lotlikar, president
of Goa Basketball Association; Shafiq Shaikh (secretary, GSBA); Govind Krishnan Muthukumar (secretary,
Maharashtra Basketball Association); Tarun from
Reliance, and Coach Marc Pulles, NBA coach.
