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Players of team Orca, in black, and Amplified, in action during the second semi-final match on May 18 at the Kohima local ground.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 18 (EMN): TMB and Orca will meet in the final, of the 11th edition of the Open Basketball Tournament on May 19 at the Kohima local ground.
Defending champion Stallions lost 53-59 to TMB (Team Mystic Ballers) in the first match of the semi-final. Although Stallions was not far behind, six-points shortage dragged them down from getting through to the final.
On the other hand, TMB, who earlier lost to Amplified by one-point in the league round, picked up and went on to win after matches, reserving a fine spot in the final. Unfortunately, both Taurus and Stallions lost to TMB in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.
TMB was on the winning side throughout the semi final match played against Stallions with 18-15 in the first quarter, 38-25 in the second, 44-39 in third, and 59-53 in the last.
Meanwhile, both Orca and Amplified equally set their record high with a win-win in all the matches until Orca defeated Amplified 92-57 in the semi-final.
In the first quarter, the match breaks at 26-15 with 11 points leading to Orca. It continued to lead in the second quarter with 41-34 and 68-43 in the third quarter.
Orca score reached its peak at the last quarter with 35 points-leading altogether, deciding the teams fate to clash in the final against TMB.
To honour two stalwarts of the club who left for their heavenly abode last year, the organisers are introducing two new challenges in this edition. KK Paul Rutsa’s Skill Challenge and Xavier Rutsa’s 3 point Challenge will be played at 4 pm to be followed by the final match.