Open Basketball: Team Orca, Stallions, Amplified and TMB enter semis

Our Correspondent

Kohima, May 17 (EMN): Team Orca, Stallions, Amplified, and TMB entered the semi-final at the ongoing 11th edition of the Open Basketball Tournament on Fri. May 17 at the Kohima local ground.

TMB, who earlier lost to Amplified in the league round, defeated the unbeaten Taurus 74-65 in the third quarter final match. Although, the former won by 9 points leading, Taurus was not far behind.

As excitement grew, TMB and Taurus ended 56-56 at the third quarter of the match. TMB picked from the fourth quarter with 69-62 at 3:50 mts. Taurus uncomfortably missed three penalties altogether and finally lost to TMB 74-65.

In a twist and turn match in the last quarterfinal match, Amplified narrowly beat Elite Basketball of Dimapur 66-62.

Till the third quarter of the match, Elite Basketball was clearly on the winning side with 50-39 over Amplified.

Yet, in a rash turn Amplified made its comeback at the seventh minutes of the fourth quarter.

Strikingly, both teams continued to play consistently and once again the board flashed 54-54 points each at 4:22 minutes of the match. Another tie of 62-62 at 49 seconds was broke loose by Amplified with penalty shootout at 34 seconds, 04 seconds, and 00 seconds respectively leading to its victory with 66-62. Both the teams missed maximum amount of penalties.

Defending champion Stallions crashed Jumpers 91-29, in the first round of the quarter final match.

Orca continued to maintain its undefeated stance since day one. Orca knocked St Joseph down 80-62, saving itself from the knock-out round.

Deputy Commandent of 10th IRB, Alongla Kaurinta Aier was the match patron of the quarter final.

Saturday’s semi-final matches (from 5pm)

1st match: Stallions vs TMB

2nd match: Orca vs Amplified