KARACHI: Exhibitting awesome cohesion and scoring skills, fancied Bounce Club overcame Neighbourhood Club 50-37 in the final to win the Sindh Sports Board (SSB) Ramazan basketball tournament at the Arambagh floodlit court on Friday evening.

This is the second title for the Bounce Club in the last five months the previous being the Inter-club title where they have beaten Nishtar Club by 47-41 points.

Nishtar, who had the honour of making it to all the previous four finals, do not participated in the event.

Bounce Club have made it to the final twice out of the five events and returned with flying colours on both the occasions.

Except for two occasions in the second quarter where the teams tied 12-all and 16-all, Bounce Club maintained their firm grip on the match.

The winners started aggressively and quickly enhanced their tally to 10-4 before winning the first quarter 12-6.

Back-to-back three pointers by Asad Ali soon after the start of the second quarter helped Neighbourhood drew level at 12-all and it was only once when they surged 13-12. Eventually, Bounce won the second quarter 12-11 to enjoy 24-17 lead at half time.

Bounce accelerated the pace and enhanced their lead to 30-17 before their opponents retaliated and reduce the deficit to 36-31 by winning the third quarter 14-12.

The fourth and last quarter turned out to be a one sided affair as Bounce completed the rout winning it 14-6. Asad Ali Mirza delighted the crowd scoring the final three-pointer as referees blew the final whistle.

The trio of Zia Ahmed 13, Mubashir and Muzammil, 10 apiece, were the key scroers for the winners. Zia was also declared Man of the Match.

Abdullah Shah and Asad Ali shared 18 points amongst themselves for the losers.

Dr Muzammiluddin received the winning trophy from the chief guest provincial secretary for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mohammad Saleem Raza, amidst applause.

Hammad N D Khan received the runners-up trophy while the fair play trophy was awarded to Karachi Colts.

The chief guest also presented jerseys to the umpires and members of the Karachi Colts. Safeer Hussain of the same team was declared young energetic player.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest announced to present sound system to the Arambagh Club after Eid.

Also present on the occasion were secretary Sindh Basketball Association and former international Abdul Nasir, chairman of the Karachi Basketball Associ­ation (KBA) Amjad Ali, KBA president Ghulam Mohammad, secretary Tariq Hussain, senior official Mohammad Yaqoob, SOA secretary Ahmed Ali and Engr Syed Mehfooz-ul-Haq.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2017