KARACHI, April 5: Formidable Wapda and Habib Bank tasted shock defeats at the hands of unfancied PAF and POF Wah in the Inter-departmental basketball championship at the National Sports Training and Coaching Centre (NSTCC) on Wednesday.
In a late recovery, PAF handed a 75-74 defeat to Wapda in extra time in a nail-biting finish. The two teams were tied 65-65 in the scheduled time.
Both the outfits fought neck and neck throughout the play with Wapda having slender lead in the first two quarters.
They led 17-16 at the end of first quarter and 14-10 in the second to lead 31-26 at half time.
However, the airmen fought with vigour and enjoyed an upper hand in the following two quarters the score being 20-18 and 19-16 which helped them cut the deficit and level the score.
The five minute extra time saw PAF scoring 10 points to Wapda’s nine to clinch the battle.
Ghulam Hasan amassed 25 points to emerge top scorer for PAF. His tally include five three pointers. He was ably supported by Tanveer Ali who contributed 18.
Prem Shehzad and Ahmed Jan scored 15 points apiece for Wapda.
Earlier, POF Wah toppled star studded Habib Bank 85-69 to conjure up second win.
Both the teams were locked 39-39 and 54-54 at the end of second and third quarters.
However, POF made good use of shooting abilities in the last quarter to turn the tables on bankers.
Ishrat Hussain Shah was the main architect for POF contributing 29 points. Rohail Shaukat and Abid Hussain were the other scorers with 17 and 16 points.
Internationals Azam and Falak Farid scored 16 and 15 for bankers.
This was banker’s first defeat in four matches in pool ‘A’.
Earlier, holders Army topped group ‘A’ and cruised to the super league when they got a walk over against Rangers. The second position in the group would become clear at the conclusion of league Thursday.
Railways and Police have made it to the super league from the other group.
Thursday’s fixtures:
3.00pm: HEC v Navy; 4.00pm: Railways v KESC; 5.00pm: Army v Habib Bank; 6.00pm: Wapda v POF; 7.00pm: PAF v Rangers.
