KARACHI: Fancied Bounce Club edged Nishtar Club 47-44 in the epic final to win the 12th National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Cup basketball tournament at the Arambagh floodlit court on Tuesday evening.

The triumph helped the Bounce Club complete a hat-trick of titles having won the Inter-club and Ramazan Cup respectively earlier this year.

The final turned out to be a repeat of the Inter-club title clash in which Bounce Club had routed Nishtar Club 47-41 to win honours.

Bounce Club had a steady start and enjoyed an upper hand over their opponents throughout the battle.

They won the first quarter 13-8 and the second 13-7 to seize a 26-15 lead at half time. Despite losing the third quarter 10-12, the winners maintained their overall grip.

Nishtar Club, however, were retaliated in the last quarter and amassed 17 points as against 11 scored by their opponents, but to no avail.

Shahmir returned with 15 and was ably supported by Dr Atif 12 tht came with the help of three three-pointers. Mubashir also finished in double figures with 10.

Though M. Shabbar hogged limelight with a brilliant score of 20 aided by four three-pointers but in vain. Ali Chanzeb and Talha Amjad Ali contributed 10 and nine respectively for the losers.

Captain of the Bounce Club Mohsin and coach Raza Agha received the shield from the chief guest, divisional head SMD of the bank, S. H. Irtiza Kazmi, at the prize distribution.

Also present on the occasion among others were bank’s sports and CSR chief Ovais Asad Khan, officials of the game Abid Iftikhar Malhi, Amjad Ali, Abdul Nasir, Mohammad Yaqoob, Yaqoob Qadri, Ghulam Mohammad and Tariq Hussain.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017