LALITPUR, MARCH 26
Royal Basketball Academy defeated Times International College 67-65 in the final of the second Royal National Level U-23 Basketball Tournament here today.
The hosts dominated the first quarter 21-10 and managed to win the trophy despite losing the last two periods.
Both the sides scored 20 points each in the second quarter before Times reduced the deficit to four points when they won the third period 13-6.
The two teams went neckto-neck in the competitive final round and Times prevailed 22-20 but they failed to avert the two-point defeat at the end. Nikesh Magar top scored for Royal with 20 points and he was later adjudged the Fresh Bites man of the match. Manish KC also contributed 20 points for Times.
Ravi Poudel of Royal was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, while his teammate Ajay Khushwaha was declared the defensive player of the event. They earned Rs 5,000 each. Champions Royal earned Rs 50,000 along with the running trophy.
A total of eight teams took part in the event organsied by Royal Sports Central. Nepal Basketball Association General Secretary Narendra Thapa and chief coach Dinesh Chandra Nakarmi among others handed over the prizes to the winners.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 27, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
