KARACHI: Fancied Bounce Club and Nishtar Club lived up their billing, registering contrasting victories over their opponents in the Kashmir Day basketball tournament at the Arambagh floodlit court on Tuesday.

Bounce Club maintained their ascendancy while overcoming group B runners-up Malir Trojans 65-39 after leading 37-15 at half time.

Bounce, who emerged group ‘A’ champions, set the pace right from the start and their triumph was never in doubt. They won the first three quarters in style –19-9, 18-6, 14-6 – before losing the fourth 14-18 that failed to have any impact on their success.

Their triumph revolved around the trio of Atif (15 points), Mohsin and Mubashir (10 apiece). Abbas and Ali Murtaza scored eight apiece for the losers while Ali Raza finished with six.

In a do-or-die encounter, Nishtar Club demonstrated better skills to whip Neighbourhood Club 54-47. The winners led 26-18 at the half time.

The match was marred by several stoppages with both sides challenging referee’s decisions.

Ali Chanzeb delighted by emerging top scorer with 19 points. He was ably assisted by Warren (12) and Asad Ali (10). Hamza and Raja Zahid equally shared 26 points amongst themselves for the losers.

A day earlier, Nishtar Club edged Arambagh Club 56-55 in a nerve-tingling match to top group B.

Arambagh Club should curse themselves for the defeat as pandemonium prevailed when they were leading 46-42.

Arambagh coach Mumtaz Ahmed objected to one of the three referees Jawaid Khan’s decision besides using abusive language. Karachi Basketball Association secretary Tariq Hussain and Amir Ghyas were the other referees.

The tournament committee first warned the coach by slapping technical charge and later debarred him to sit with the team on bench.

Khan and Ghyas refused to further supervise the match. However, sanity prevailed and the match was completed.

Talah Amjad top scored with 19 and was followd by Ali Chanzeb 12 and Asad Ali 10.

Raj Kumar’s 25 for Arambagh Club went in vain. Talah scored 13 for the losers.

In another match Omegas Club gets the better of One Unit Club 43-37.

The final between Nishtar Club and Bounce Club will be played on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2018