KARACHI, March 27: The all Karachi Shohda-e-Haq basketball tournament has reached the semi-final stage at the Arambagh floodlit court on Monday evening.

The teams that completed the quartet in the three-day knockout event were Karachi Basketball Club (KBBC), Bounce Club, Malir Club and Swagoo Club after they won their fixtures in exciting fashion.

The four matches that were played on Monday drew applause from a large crowd that turned up at the venue. The Bohra band was also in attendance.

KBBC, one of the oldest clubs of the city, carved out 41-32 victory over Gulshan Hawks.

The winners led 22-14 at half time.

Tahir Ahmed, Akmal Jamil and Abdullah Imam were the main architect of their team’s success scoring 12, 11 and 10 points respectively.

Though Afaq scored 14 but could not save Gulshan Hawks from defeat.

Shahid and Mahad contributed seven apiece.

The match also marked formal inauguration of the event.

Sindh Sports Minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, who graced the occasion, took salute of the competing teams.

MPA’s Tahir Qureshi, and Muqeem Alam, Shakil Ahmed, the moving spirit behind the event, and organising secretary, Abdul Nasir were also present.

In another match, fighting Bounce Club came from behind in the fourth quarter to inflict 41-37 defeat on Nishtar Club. The winners trailed 20-22 at interval. Both teams were locked 30-all at one stage.

Talha 9, Saifullah 7, Umer 6 and Habibullah 5 shared the scoring for winners as none of their players finish in double figure.

Haroon top scored for Nishtar with 10 and was ably assisted by Rizwan 8, Rashid and Hammad six apiece and Shabbar 5.

Outsider Malir Club shocked Neighbourhood Club Seniors 33-32 in a low scoring but keenly contested match.

The winners trailed 15-20 at breather.

Ali Raza guided his team to triumph with a solo score of 13.

Saeed and Aqeel were the other scorers with 7 and 6 respectively.

Tahir Ahmed, Raja Zahid, Omer and Ali Ahmed shone for their team with scores of 9, 8, 6 and 5 respectively.

They should curse themselves for the defeat for becoming complacent.

Swagoo Club humbled Neighbourhood Club Juniors 44-30 after leading 22-15 at half time.

Sabih bin Alam was the principal scorer with 12 followed by Zafar Ishaq and Bilal Khan who scored eight apiece.

Zeeshan Ali and Hamza Ali shared 20 points amongst themselves for losers.

In the two matches played on the preceding day, Neighbourhood Club Juniors thrashed Arambagh Club 45-29 while Malir Club gave a 42-24 drubbing to Manora Club.