TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Saligao Foxes, Manoshanti Friends and Aliens Basketeers move into the pre-quarterfinals of Senior State Basketball Championship in the men’s section winning their respective first round matches at the Don Bosco Oratory’s Fr Benedict Furtado Indoor Stadium, Sunday.
Saligao Foxes defeated Padre Conceicao College of Engineering Verna (PCCE) 54-20 in a match that initially seemed a close fight with the score reading 12-8 in favour of the eventual victors at the end of the first quarter.
But the Saligao lads picked up pace and gradually took hold of the match from the second quarter onwards with Brendon (16 pts) and Shane (10 points) top-scoring. For PCCE, Dattaraj Vernekar fought a lone battle scoring 15 points.
The match between Manoshanti Friends and Loyola turned out to be highly competitive but the former eventually turned out winners 40-35.
Manoshanti Friends managed to hold on to the lead they amassed over the first three quarters and kept the spirited fight of the Loyola boys at bay in the last quarter. Loyola’s came back strongly to take the last quarter by 12 points to eight but the effort wasn’t enough and ended five points in the deficit at the hooter. Abelio de Souza, who scored 32 points, was the pick of the Manoshanti. Mark Fernandes (13 pts) and Nash Rodrigues (10 pts) played well for Loyola.
Aliens Basketers who fielded an experienced side scored a facile 45-26 win over GIM with Sohail Naroo (14 points), veteran Filipe Alvares (11 points) and Michael Dias (9 points) doing the bulk of the scoring. Darshan, who scored 18 points, was the pick of the GIM, Sanquelim team.
Scores: Saligao Foxes defeated PCCE, Verna (54-20); Manoshanti Friends, Panjim defeated Loyola H/S Margao 40-35; Aliens Basketeers defeated GIM, Sanquelim 45-26.
