Goa All-Stars: Lourdes BC and YMCA Knights secure thrilling semis victories

While Lourdes beat KJ's BC 65-61, Knights prevailed 42-37 over Sonics.

Panjim, 15th July 2023: The men’s semifinals of the Goa All-Star Games were held yesterday, at the Don Bosco Oratory in the city.

In the first semifinal match, Lourdes Basketball Club clashed against KJ’s Basketball Club in a high-intensity encounter. Captain Jeshua Pinto of Lourdes Basketball Club showcased his brilliance, scoring an impressive 33 points to lead his team to a hard-fought 65-61 victory. He was ably supported by Jason Nathan, who added 14 points of his own, including the final dagger three that sealed the win. Lourdes Basketball Club dominated the opening quarter with a 17-11 lead and maintained their composure throughout the game, despite a strong fightback from KJ’s Basketball Club in the final quarter. Lourdes Basketball Club's consistent performance in all quarters secured their place in the finals.

Lourdes Basketball Club

KJ’s Basketball Club's Syed Man Salman played a valiant game, contributing 19 points, while Shiv Kumar U and Arun Kumar S scored 16 and 12 points respectively. Centre Shiv Kumar had a sub-par game by his standards, unable to adequately capitalize on his size advantage in the paint. While Shiv Kumar made a couple of clutch free throws towards the end, he was equally guilty of attempting an unnecessary go-ahead three-pointer which failed even to hit the rim.

In the second semifinal match, YMCA Knights battled against Sonics in a low-scoring affair. Jaden Vas of YMCA Knights led the scoring for his team with 15 points, followed by Abraham Menezes with 12 points and Flobert Monteiro with 9 points. Jaden Fernandes of Sonics put up a strong fight, contributing 13 points, while Brandon Gabriel scored 8. The YMCA Knights started strong, dominating the first half and securing a comfortable lead. Although Sonics staged a comeback in the third and fourth quarters, it was not enough to overturn the deficit. YMCA Knights emerged victorious with a final score of 42-37, earning themselves a spot in the much-anticipated finals.

Basketball enthusiasts eagerly await the finals, which will witness a fierce battle between Lourdes Basketball Club and YMCA Knights, as they vie for the coveted championship title. With both teams displaying exceptional determination, the finals promise to be a nail-biting spectacle for fans and players alike.

Men’s Semifinals Results (15-7-23)

1. Lourdes Basketball Club (Jeshua Pinto 33, Jason Nathan 14) bt KJ’s Basketball Club (Syed Man Salman 19, Shiv Kumar U 16, Arun Kumar S 12) 65-61 [17-11, 14-16, 16-10, 18-24]

2. YMCA Knights (Jaden Vas 15, Abraham Menezes 12, Flobert Monteiro 9) bt Sonics (Jaden Fernandes 13, Brandon Gabriel 8) 42-37 [10-6, 15-7, 6-11, 11-13]