ISLAMABAD - Defending champions Pakistan Army thrashed Faisalabad 138-23 on the inaugural day of the National Basketball Championship 2015, which started here at Hamidi Hall, Pakistan Sports Complex on Sunday. Member Provincial Assembly Raja M Hanif was the chief guest on the grand opening ceremony.
Wapda, PAF and HEC also registered contrasting victories on the inaugural day of the event. DDG Facilities Agha Amjedullah, Assistant Director Hostels Malik Imtiaz Hussain, Maj (R) Asad Pervaiz, former national coach, Dr Aamir Murad Director, HR POF Wah, Secretary General Pakistan Basketball Federation Khalid Bashir, ex-national captain Malik Akbar, tournament director Imtiaz Rafi Butt, organising secretary Khalid Ch, DSO Rawalpindi Abdul Waheed Babar and other dignitaries was also present on the occasion. The championship is being organised by Rawalpindi Basketball Association in collaboration with Sports Department City District Government Rawalpindi and the technical officials are provided by Pakistan Basketball Federation.
Army led the entire 4 quarters of the match and were just toying with the Faisalabad team, who were looking like school-going kids. Tuglub was the leading scorer for Army with 34 points while Pervaiz scored 23 points. Faisal was the lone notable scorer for the losers as he produced 18 points.
In the second match of the day, Wapda beat Lahore 106 to 68. Yawar scored 20 points for Wapda while Amir also scored 18. It was a very close match in the first two quarters, as Lahore matched fire with fire and remained at the tail of mighty Wapda, but after playing so well in the first 20 minutes of the match, all of a sudden, Lahore players went out of gas and they conceded too many points especially in the last quarter.
In the third match of the day, PAF thrashed Hazara Division 133-55. Airmen were leading 22/10 in the first quarter, 65-30 in the second quarter, 90-45 in the third quarter and 133-55 in the 4th quarter. In the 4th and last match of the day, Higher Education Commission (HEC) carved out sensational victory against Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF) 76-65. It was the match of the day, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the pack to capacity crowd, as it was neck and neck battle between the two evenly matched sides.