PESHAWAR, June 21: Punjab edged out NWFP 106-99 in a fiercely-fought final to lift PSB Under-17 Inter-provincial basketball title at Abbottabad Sports Complex on Tuesday. NWFP put up tough resistance especially in the first two quarters and matched Punjab players’ skills point for point till the end of 40-minute match.

NWFP grabbed an early lead when Sheharyar converted three pointers in a row. They, then, raced up to make it 15-6, but Punjab roared back to level it at 15-15, 28-28 and 35-all. The score remained so till the end of first 10-minute quarter.

Punjab’s Rameez and Babar played superbly to help team dominate the second quarter by ratcheting up the score 63-43. Babar Ahmed, too, played well adided by excellent support from Dilawar Khan who not only fed the team with useful passes but also made some perfect baskets.

The third quarter saw a pitched fight between the two equal rivals. But in the end Punjab emerged leading by 80-71. The last quarter was almost identical to the third as far as fighting spirit is concerned. The teams were tied 88-88, 95-95 before Punjab overcame NWFP to win the battle 106-99.

Babar made 35 individual baskets including six three pointers, Rameez 29 points with four three pointers, Nadba Bhatti 15 baskets and Dilawar scored 23 individual baskets for the winners.

Sikander Khan made 33 baskets with seven three pointers, Sheharyar scored 29 baskets, Khushdil 14, Sohail 15 and Azmat, Waseem and Hamad two each for the losers. NWFP’s Ibrahim Khan, the mid-striker, played outstandingly by delivering some brilliant passes.—APP