Sports

Times, NPC win NBL titles

Times, NPC win NBL titles

By Himalayan News Service

Players and officials of winning teams Times International Club and Nepal Police Club (women) pose for a group photo after the Kwiks Nepal Basketball League at the NSC covered hall in Kathmandu on Saturday. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry / THT

Kathmandu, June 22 Times International College and Nepal Police Club won the titles of the Kwiks Nepal Basketball League here at the NSC covered hall today. Times defeated Tribhuvan Army Club 88-72 in the final riding on 33 points from Praneet Udumalagala and 27 from skipper Sadish Pradhan, who had seven threepointers in match. The two teams faced each other six times in the tournament and both of them win three each. After winning one each match in the league round, TAC defeated Times 2-1 in the best-of-three first qualifier. Times made it to the final with a 2-0 victory over NPC in the second qualifier. Along with the trophy, Times received Rs 200,000, while TAC got Rs 100,000. Times opened up with 19- 12 lead and extended the lead 16 points by winning the second quarter 21-12. Times then won the competitive third period 27-26 before TAC took final quarter 22-21. Times skipper Pradhan was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and he received return ticket to open destination from Turkish Airlines. Pradhan also won the highest scorer’s award, while his teammate Bikram Joshi was named the best defensive player and his team coach Prem Hona also bagged the individual award. TAC’s Ram Krishna Ghatane was declared the most improved player. In women’s section, NPC beat Samriddhi Gorillas 65- 52. Anusha Malla top scored for NPC with 16 points, while her skipper and fellow national team member Alisha Malla netted 13 points. Gorillas, who finished as the top team in the league round, opened up with a 12-8 lead before NPC reduced the deficit to two points by winning the second quarter 19-17. The departmental side dominated the third period 22-13 and that made all the difference giving them a seven-point lead going into the final quarter. NPC completed the victory winning the fourth period 16-10. NPC received Rs 50,000 and Gorillas got Rs 25,000. NPC’s Anusha Malla was declared the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and she received also return ticket to open destination from Turkish Airlines. National team skipper Sadina Shrestha, who led the Gorillas, was named the best defensive player, while Allana May Lim of ISO Kite was the highest scorer. Pratikshya Magar of Saipal Academy was named the emerging player, while NPC’s Binod Shrestha was declared the best coach. A total of 12 teams — eight in men and four in women — took part in the 55-day tournament organised by Play for Deprived Children Nepal under the sponsorship of Chaudhary Group. Meanwhile, Team Paras — led by national cricket team skipper Paras Khadka — defeated Team Prashant — led by artist Prashant Tamrakar — 54-31 in a friendly match.