Although lethargic at the start of the match, KJ’s upped the tempo at the end of the first quarter to square the score and snatch the initiative from the Mumbai team.
For most part of the match though, the scoring flowed on an even keel but late in the last quarter, KJ’s surged ahead and managed to hold on to the lead till the buzzer went off.
Akash Madgavkar (19 points) and Abraham Menezes (18 points) top-scored for KJ’s while Vignesh played well for the out of sorts Mumbai lads.
Earlier, home side DBO ‘A’ clinched a close game beating Goa Naval Area 50-46 to book their berth in the last four.
Roy Pereira (28 points) and Shawn Aranjo (9 points) played well for DBO ‘A’ while the lanky Amit (30 points) was the pick of the naval side.
In another cliff-hanger, YMCA Knights made it through against Sonics with just a solitary point separating the two teams. Jason Braganza held his nerves to convert the first of two free throws he earned on the buzzer, putting paid to the qualitative efforts of Sonics throughout the match.
YMCA Knights thus got the better of Sonics, billed the pre-match underdogs, literally by the skin of their teeth and made it to the semis.
The final slot in the semi-final draw was taken by Don Bosco Basketeers, Fatorda, who made short work of the upcoming Lourdes Basketball Club 55-23 with Nigel (25 points) and Mahir (15 points) top-scoring. Joshua Pinto contributed 10 points to give Lourdes a respectable figure on the scoreboard.
