Kathmandu, January 15:

Golden Gate Club opened their title defence with a convincing 94-51 victory over Reunited on the opening day of the Trinity National Open Basketball Championship at the National Sports Council covered hall today.

The defending champions opened up a huge 19-point lead in the first quarter, scoring 25 against six points of their opponents. Golden Gate Club were never troubled in the entire match as they scored 20, 19 and 30 points in the next three quarters while restricting Reunited for 15, 13, 17 points. Sushil Gurung top scored with 28 points for the defending champions.

In other matches of the day, Unique Group of Kirtipur overcame White House International College 78-59, Southsiders edged past Revolver Group 60-51 and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) saw off JB College 64-50.

The match between Unique and White House College was competative till the third quarter before Unique ran away with massive 23 points in contrast to 11 of the White House.

Unique had only seven-point lead going into the final quarter after scoring 22, 15, and 18 against 18, 16 and 14 of the White House in the first three quarters. Rajan Maharjan contributed 15 for Unique.

Likewise, Southsiders overcame spirited Revolver Group 60-51 riding on 19 points from Sanjay Byanjankar while Suman Maharjan netted 23 points but could not help avert JB College from conceding a 50-64 defeat against the army team. Dilip Pudasaini contributed 18 for the Armymen. The army club is participating in the national tournament after four years.

In all, 19 teams in men’s and eight in women’s section are vying for the championships organised by Nepal Basketball Association under the sponsorship of Trinity College.