Chennai Slam edged out Bengaluru Beast by three points to end their league assignment on a high note (top the table) in the third season of the UBA professional basketball league, at the badminton hall, Balewadi sports complex here on Saturday.
Chennai who have beaten Pune Peshwas in their earlier match make it to the semi-final in the South Division of this championship. They play take the winners of second and third placed teams in semi-final to be played on July 25.
The Bangalore franchise who have lost to Hyderabad end their campaign in this edition of the championship after their 93-96 against the former champions Chennai Slam.
Chennai did not get well into the game well, but managed to hold a slight edge over their opponents with slender lead. “Yes the boys played well, but as they have been playing matches regularly, it was the recovery period and that was the reason they could not come with their best,” said Prasanna Jayshankar.
Berdinent Carmel, better known as Cammy was exceptionally good and rightly so he was adjudged as the player of the match. “We are the champions,” said the Southern Railways player when asked about the teams chances of regaining the title which they had won in the inaugural year.
“That is very good. If the players are confident that will boost the morale of the side,” commented coach Prasanna on Cammy’s observation.
“Bangalore is a good side, but they lack experience and they missed three pointers one each by Ranghu and Palani which I would say let them off,” stated Prasanna.
Cammy’s 12 baskets out of 16 attempts, is a clear indication that he was outstanding on court. “He is good and he has a long way to go,” said Puneeth Satish the Bengaluru Beast coach commenting on the rival outfit.
“No regrets, they played well and they deserved to win. This I don’t mean that my boys did not play good. They also played well, but lacked experience which was the main setback for us,” said Satish.
The only occasion Bengaluru were ahead was after the second session by a slender margin of 48-47. They are a new side and they will come good in the next championship,” was the onlu positive note Satish, who is also the Jain College basketball coach had to say about his boys.
Final: Chennai: 96 (Cammy 25, R Kumar 18, Agu 10, A Rai 10) beat Bengaluru Beast: 93 (V Palani 24, K Zia 14, Raghuram 13)
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