Kathmandu, June 4

Tribhuvan Army Club finished the league round campaign of the Kwiks Nepal Basketball League as the table toppers here today.

The departmental side defeated ANK Kirtipur Basketball Team 89-77 for their 13th victory in 14 matches. TAC opened up with a 24-23 lead in their away match before winning the second quarter 20-16.

Both the teams netted 20 points in the third quarter, while TAC dominated the final period 25-18 to register a comfortable victory.

TAC skipper Rabin Khatri was named the player-of-the-match for his 27 points along with three rebounds and an assist. TAC accumulated 27 points, one more that second-placed Times International Club, who lost two games in league round. Both TAC and Times have already secured berths in the playoffs.

Three teams, Golden Gate International College, Nepal Police Club and Budanilkantha Municipality Basketball Club have 20 points each and two of them can earn playoffs berths from their last match.

Royal Basketball Club (17), Kirtipur (16) and BMC South Siders Basketball Club (15) have been eliminated.

In women’s section, Samriddhi Gorillas registered their fourth consecutive victory beating Nepal Police Club 39- 35. The Gorillas led 9-5 in the first quarter before falling 8-9 behind in the second.

Gorillas then extended the lead to seven points by winning the third quarter 13-9.

NPC hit back in the final quarter winning 12-9 but that was not enough for them.

Gorillas skipper Sadina Shrestha, who is also the captain of women’s national basketball team, earned the player-of-the-match award for her 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block.

In another match, ISO Kite defeated Saipal Academy 72- 63 riding in 27 points from Allana May Lim. Kite opened up with 23-12 lead and won the second quarter 15-11. Saipal bounced back to win the remaining two quarters — 17-13 and 23-21 — but they fell short. Player-of-the-match Lim had 24 rebounds, two assists and a block.

After the day’s matches, Gorillas maintained their lead in the four-team competition with eight points, while NPC are second with six points.

Kite and Saipal have four and three points respectively.

Top two teams after double round-robin league will advance to the final.