All the group stage games of the Indian subcontinent's first FIBA authorised 3x3 basketball tournament '3x3 Road to Mexico' concluded today at the Ambience Mall, Gurugram.
The quarterfinals line up for tomorrow is as follows:
3:00 pm: Hamamatsu vs Sri Lanka President's Team
3:30 pm: Tsukuba vs Delhi All-Stars
4:00 pm: Yokohama vs Malaysia NT
4:30 pm: Ludhiana Basketball Academy vs SPC Club
Pool A - SPC Club blow past Vijaya Bank
After losing to Hamamatsu in their first game, Vijaya Bank played a must-win game against SPC Club. SPC Club were playing their first game of the day, and the difference in energy levels between the teams was evident. SPC Club were quicker on the ball and off the boards, eventually winning 18 – 10. Notably, this was the first game of the tournament to go the full ten minutes, as every winner before this had reached 21 points before the clock ran out. "We were focused on defending hard and avoiding fouls," said Nikhil Dahiya of SPC Club.
SPC Club bt Vijaya Bank 18 - 10
Pool B - Delhi All-Stars granted easy route to quarter finals
The Delhi All-Stars were forced to wait for their first action of the tournament, as they were granted a walk over by their opponents ONGC. ONGC opted not to risk further damage in the tournament after Vishesh went down injured in their first game, particularly in light of their participation at the FIBA Champions Cup later this month.
Delhi All-Stars bt ONGC (walkover)
Pool C - Malaysia National Team pip YounGuns to clinch quarter final spot
After posting a respectable challenge against Tsukuba, the YounGuns put up another spirited performance in their second game against the Malaysia national team. Their outside shooting ensured that the game was close throughout, even taking the lead 16-14 with four and a half minutes to go. Both teams continued to trade buckets as the game was tied at 20 with less than 2 minutes to go. But the Malaysian players used their physicality and drove to the basket relentlessly, making the final bucket to narrowly win the game. "I was only thinking of winning when I made the bucket," said Heng Yes Tong of Malaysia National Team.
Malaysia NT bt YounGuns 21-20
Pool D - Sri Lanka President's Team outmuscle Kings BC
The Sri Lanka President's Team clinched the final quarter final spot with a victory over the Kings BC from
The Sri Lanka President's Team clinched the final quarter final spot with a victory over the Kings BC from Maldives 16 - 12. The game was hotly contested by both teams, who played with a lot of strength and physicality. "It was a tough game, they are good shooters. But we were determined to draw fouls," said Pawan Gamage of the Sri Lanka President's Team.
Sri Lanka President's Team bt Kings BC 16 - 12
Pool A - Hamamatsu prevail over SPC Club
Hamamatsu beat SPC Club with a 21-11 win, but the score line does not do justice to the manner in which the game panned out. The game was tied at 11 apiece, before Hamamatsu's rapid ball movement and accurate outside shooting allowed them to break away and snatch the top seed with victory. Hamamatsu bt SPC Club 21 – 11
Pool B – Yokohama beat Delhi All-Stars
Yokohama used their size advantage to good effect against a Delhi All-Stars team that was playing together for the first time ever. The Delhi All-Star team was picked based on try outs at Siri Fort in New Delhi, and did not see action in the first round of fixtures because they were granted a walkover. Their individual brilliance kept them ahead early on in the game, but the sheer strength of Yokohoma's big men wore the Delhi All-Stars down as the game went on. Eventually, the team from Japan prevailed 19 - 10.
Yokohama bt Delhi All-Stars 19 – 11
Pool C – Tsukuba survive buzzer beater scare to beat Malaysia NT
Tsukuba beat Malaysia NT 13 - 12 in a game of attrition that went down to the wire.Baskets were at a premium as both teams struggled to make their shots, and focused instead on making life hard for the other team. The game was tied at 10 points apiece with a little more than two minutes left. Tsukuba took the lead 13 – 12 as the game wound to a close. Heng Yee Tong threw up a shot from beyond the arc at the buzzer, but the referees waived the shot after review. "I think we won the game, but it's the ref's call. It was a good game," said Fong Yen Yee of Malaysia NT.
Tsukuba bt Malaysia NT 13 – 12
Pool D – Sri Lanka fall short against Ludhiana BA
Sri Lanka put up a valiant performance against the big men of Ludhiana BA, but eventually lost 21 – 15. Sri Lanka shot the ball well, as both teams traded 2- pointers, and Sri Lanka was leading 11 – 9 with 6 minutes to go on the clock. From there, Talwinderjit 'TJ' Sahi of Ludhiana BA took control of the game, knocking down multiple three-pointers and leading his team to the top of their group with the win. "These guys are a massive team. But we gave them a good fight, I am proud of our team," said Kisal Cooray of Sri Lanka.
Ludhiana BA bt Sri Lanka 21 – 15
