The second game of the first-day action in UBA’s second leg in Hyderabad was between the Mumbai Challengers and Punjab Steelers.
The game between the Steelers and Challengers came alive in the sixth minute when Mumbai forged ahead scoring five on the trot to take a three point lead at 11-8. There were some elementary defensive errors by the Steelers, forcing the coach to call a time out to allow his players to gather their wits.
The lead grew to six points when Gagandeep Singh converted a free throw at 15-10. Prudhvi for Mumbai was probing the opponent’s defense with his pace. Akilan and Abhijit were responding at the other end for the Steelers. But both teams appeared to be pulling the trigger in haste, struggling to make the good work count at the start.
The quality of basketball in the second season of the UBA has been markedly better and a brilliant pass from Prudhvi to Nikhil, slicing right through the heart of Steelers defenses, underlined why the UBA promises to be a spectacular league in the years to come.
As the quarter drew to a close, Prudhvi was far from spent, scoring from under the basket to stretch the lead to 14. The Steelers had work to do when they went into the first break at 15-30.
The arrival of Pulkit Sood in the second quarter along with some purposeful advances by Kuldeep Singh helped the Steelers turn the tide. The Steelers were strong on the turnovers (10 to 2) and as many as 21 points came off the bench as they tied Mumbai 42-42 at the halfway mark.
Close contest in the second-half as well
The third quarter saw some patchy play at both ends, marked by some loose passing and forays that lacked conviction. Mumbai had drawn away in increments with Karan Pal Singh earning some reward for his doggedness around the paint.
But it was the diminutive Kuldeep who finished it on a high for the Steelers with a brilliant three-pointer right on the hooter. The teams went into the break, looking set for a racy finish at 63-59 to the Challengers.
At the start of the fourth, Mumbai spread its lead to ten points when Ranbir Singh sliced through a stranded line of Steelers to load the bucket from under the glass. Steelers needed a move on and Keshav gave them a hand with a three-pointer that helped them draw to within five with about six minutes still on the clock.
On the three minute mark, Kerala captain R Manoj flew one from the left to give Steelers a vital three-pointer that took them into the lead at 79-78. In the intensity of the final seconds, skipper Jagdeep Singh scored from the paint to put Mumbai in sight of victory.
The match was sealed 82-79 on a free throw in the last play off a foul by Punjab who failed to make possession count with over 20 seconds at their disposal. Jagdeep Singh was awarded the player of the match for his astute leadership of the Challengers as well as some brilliant work through the game.
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