PANAJI

It was an all Maharashtra affair at the Finals of the West Zone Basketball Championship 2018 at the Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim Goa, with both the Men and Women sealing the title in their favour to emerge as clear champions of the West.

In the women’s Final Maharashtra women were off to a flier, taking a 11pt lead in the start. The first and third quarters were the quick scoring ones with Rasika Pande scoring 26pts and Mugdha Amraotkar (14pts) in quick action. Maharashtra won the high scoring match 97-49. Naomi Lakhandal (10 pts) and Shradda Patel (8 pts) played well for Gujarat.

The men’s final between Maharashtra and Gujarat saw a stiff game in the first two quarters, with Gujarat just 2 baskets behind and ready for a challenge with favourites Maharashtra. Even the third quarter was closely fought with just a basket lead given to Maharashtra. But the favourites kept the best moves for the last, changing the game to man to man and aggressive plays and jumping the margin to ensure, there was not competition to them. Maharashtra won comfortable in the end 87-63.

Shri V M Prabhudessai, Director of Sports Authority of Goa was the chief guest. Other dignitaries present were Shri. M Venkatesh (BFI Development Programs), the convener of the event, Shri Shakti Sinh Gohil (President GSBA) and Joint Secretary BFI, GIRISH LOTLIKAR – President of Goa Basketball Association, Shafiq Shaikh (Secretary GSBA), Shri Govind Krishnan Muthukumar (Secretary of Maharashtra Basketball Association), Mr. Tarun from RELIANCE, and Coach Marc Pulles, NBA Coach.