Kathmandu, January 3:

Rhododendron International Boarding School (RIBS) lifted the men’s and Rato Bangala School won the women’s section titles at the sixth men’s and fifth women’s Samsung National Basketball Tournament organised by Nepal Basketball Association here at the National Sports Council covered hall today.

Sunil Gurung of the RIBS and Maya Syangtang of Happy Home were declared the most valuable men’s and women’s players of the tournament respectively. RIBS sneaked past Himalayan White House International College 73-72. Trailing in all three quarters, White House made late comeback and lost the championship by just one point. RIBS led the first three quarters with 18-17, 21-14 and 19-18.

White House showed great resiliance in the last quarter scoring 23 points to that of 15 of the RIBS but was short by one point. Sunil Gurung top-scored for the winners with 24 points, while Karma Gurung netted 20 for the losing team.

Rato Bangala beat Happy Home 34-21 to capture the women’s title. Happy Home was following close until the half time (10-16) but the third quarter turned out to be fatal for them as they failed to score a single point to that of the nine of their opponents.

Happy Home lead the final quarter (11-9) but was not enough to avert their defeat. Member secretary of the National Sports Council Kishor Bahadur Singh gave away prizes to the winners.