Mysore: Jain Uni reclaims Challengers Cup
The Bengaluru-based champs from the inaugural edition beat Thrissur's Sahrdaya College 61-44 in the finals to pocket a ₹60,000/- cash prize.
Mysuru, Karnataka, 23 December 2024: The Challengers Cup 3rd All-India Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament concluded yesterday at the National Sports Club, the heritage hub of Mysore basketball.
The event, hosted by Challenger’s Academy in affiliation with the Mysuru District Basketball Association (MDBBA), featured the top men’s college teams across South India.
Jain-gantic Comeback!
The most anticipated match of the day—the finals—saw Jain University (Bengaluru) exorcise their demons from the past by defeating Sahrdaya College (Thrissur) 62-45. With this victory, Jain reclaimed the championship title they had lost last year.
In their previous encounter, Sahrdaya had stunned Jain, neutralizing their offensive threats to secure a spot in the knockouts. However, the perennial champions from Bengaluru showcased remarkable poise and resilience this time around. Storming back to the finals, Jain seized the moment in a fiercely contested battle for supremacy, leaving no doubt about their dominance.
In the third-place game, Kumaraguru Institutions (Coimbatore) edged out CMR University (Bengaluru) 33-31, capping off their brilliant 3-0 performance in the group phase with a gritty win.
Earlier in the morning session, the first semifinal game saw Sahrdaya College (Thrissur) overpower a fatigued CMR University (Bengaluru) 54-30. The Thrissur side displayed complete control, leaving their Bengaluru opponents struggling to keep up.
The second semifinal featured a clash of contrasting styles as Jain University (Bengaluru) overwhelmed Kumaraguru Institutions (Coimbatore) 92-64. Despite a competitive start, Jain shifted gears, bouncing back from their group-stage slip with a commanding display of precision on both ends of the court.
Results (22/12/2024):
Finals: Jain University (Jinu 25, Suganthan 11) bt Sahrdaya College (Jeron 16) 61-44 [19-16, 11-8, 10-9, 21-11]
Third-Fourth Place: Kumaraguru Institutions (Ragulkanth 21 pts, Kamalesh 18, Surender 14) bt CMR University (Shashi 26, Chandu 10) 65-44 [17-10, 12-16, 20-7, 16-11]
Semifinals:
Sahrdaya College (Johny 17, Shaji 14, Dominic 13) bt CMR University (Chandu 10) 54-30 [21-10, 16-3, 9-9, 8-8]
Jain University (Suganthan 33, Peter 22, Arjun 11) bt Kumaraguru Institutions (Kamalesh 17, Surender 15, Gee 11) 92-64 [15-14, 19-17, 31-17, 27-16]
Prize Distribution
Winners: Jain University (Bengaluru) – ₹60,000
Runners-Up: Sahrdaya College (Thrissur) – ₹30,000
3rd Place: Kumaraguru Institutions (Coimbatore) – ₹15,000
4th Place: CMR University (Bengaluru) – ₹10,000
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
#0 Shashi – CMR University (Bengaluru)
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