ONGC Men and Chhattisgarh Women Crowned Champions of the 28th Federation Cup National Basketball Championship

Chhattisgarh women celebrate after their thrilling one point win

Press Release/Ahmedabad 9^th Jan 2014: Chhattisgarh women scored a one-point (77-76) victory over Maharashtra in the final. Both teams were matched shot for shot throughout the game. Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh were tied at 72 points with two minutes left for regulation time. Chhattisgarh was 77 in the final minute and a 3 pointer by Renu Maurya got Maharastra to 76. However, with one second left on the clock Shireen missed a potential 3 point game winning field goal to hand over the title to Chhattisgarh. Poonam Chaturvedi scored 30 points, Pushpa M 17, Anju Lakra 14, and Aakansha Singh added 14 points for Chhattisgarh. Manisha Dange scored 19, Smruthi Radhakrishnan 17, Renu Maurya 16 and Shireen Limaye finished with 15 for Maharashtra. The Runners were each awarded Rs 75000.

ONGC’s Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, who is also the current Senior Indian team captain was named the most valuable men’s player of the tournament.

ONGC men carried their excellent form in the tournament going into the finals of IMG-Reliance 28^th Federation Cup National Basketball Championship being held at the YMCA International Centre defeating Tamil Nadu (IOB) 61-53 and thereby clinching the title and prize money of Rs 1,00,000. Amritpal Singh scored 24 points for ONGC . Vishesh Bhriguvanshi and Yadwinder Singh added 12 points each. Trideep Rai scored two 3 pointers and finished with 7 points for his side. Pratham Singh scored 16, Sivabalan G 12and Amjyot Singh finished with 9 for IOB.

Earlier in the day Mayur Bhat scored 17, Gopal Ram 12, Anthony Nixon added 11 and Services (Army Red) beat Punjab (Border Security Force) 72-48 to for a 3^rd place finish. Vinod Kumar scored 13 points and Devinder Hooda finished with 10 for Punjab (Border Security Force).

In the women’s match Kerala got the better of Delhi beating them 72-48 to finish 3^rd. Merlin Baby scored 14, Surya P 14 and Stephy Nixon added 13 for Kerala. Madhu Kumari scored a phenomenal 21 for Delhi and was ably assisted by Sarvanta Kumari (11).

Most Valuable Player 

Men – Vishesh Bhriguvanshi

Women – Smruthi Radhakrishnan

Result – 9^th Jan 2014

Final

Men

Uttarakhand (ONGC) (Amritpal Singh 24, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi 12, Yadwinder Singh 12) bt Tamil Nadu (IOB) (Pratham Singh 16, Sivabalan G 12, Amjyot Singh 9) 61-53 (14-15, 18-10, 11-9, 18-19)

Women

Chhattisgarh (Poonam Chaturvedi 30, Pushpa M 17, Anju Lakra 14, Aakansha Singh 14) bt Maharashtra (Manisha Dange 19, Smruthi Radhakrishnan 17, Renu Maurya 16, Shireen Limaye 15) 77-76 (22-17, 16-20, 21-19, 18-20)

3^rd Place Match

Men

Services (Army Red) (Mayur Bhat 17, Gopal Ram 12, Anthony Nixon 11) bt Punjab (Border Security Force) (Vinod Kumar 13, Devinder Hooda 10) 72-48 (23-16, 18-13, 19-11, 12-8)

Women

Kerala (Merlin Baby 14, Surya P 14, Stephy Nixon 13) bt Delhi (Madhu Kumari 21, Sarvanta Kumari 11) 58-43 (11-10, 17-4, 13-11, 17-18)