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Bambolim, Goa 11th March 2016: Kerala Women crowned the Gold after a Gap of 21 years and for the first time as a State Unit – Kerala when they beat Chhattisgarh 80-71 in an evenly contested final here for the 30th Edition of the Federation Cup Basketball at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor stadium in the Goa University Campus. The teams are facing each other for the second time in this tournament. After a blowout loss in the league stages, Chhattisgarh were keen to exact revenge today.while ONGC, Dehradun defeated Indian Overseas Bank, Chennai (IOB) 73-57 to make it four in a row this year.

The team coached by PC Antony who had in his feather this year the All India University women title to Calicut got one more feather in his cap as Kerala lead by Jeena P S took the Women title after an gap of 21 years , last time It was in Sivakasi 1994-95 (at that time Champion Club was Representing) FACT took the Gold incidentally PJ Sunny who was the asst coach this time was the coach for KSEB when it won 3 times earlier (In History Kerala won four times but this will be the first time that Kerala is Winning the Championship as a State Unit other 3 times earlier were by FACT .the rule change after 1996-97 at Alapuzha Federation cup championship that Basketball federation has changed this format to the State Unit in women to Participate ).

The Kerala team this time was a blend of youth and professionals averaging 21 years of age came on with six changes that played in recent Mysore Nationals when they took the silver (Six Professionals (4 from KSEB and Two from Kerala Police) and Six from Colleges)

The match which was an evenly poised one where Kerala showed excellent ball movement on offense, with almost all five players touching the ball on each possession Never allow Chhattisgarh take a Lead once and started leading the first Quarter with a 23-17 lead but Chhattisgarh closed the margin through Poonam Chaturvedi and finished the First half at 43-41 . The second half started by Kerala with a Three-Pointer from Neenumol PS and finished the Third quarter with a lead of 10 points before Jeena’s mid-range jumper in the dying minutes was the final nail in the coffin for Chhattisgarh who succumbed to a 80-71 loss .

On the offensive end, Stephy came out to play, putting her post skills on show. Poonam was too slow to match Stephy’s array of moves in the post. Kerala centre Stephy Nixon this time had a good match ensured that Poonam did not get into easy post position, pushing her away from her comfort zone. On the offensive end also Stephy came out to play, putting her post skills on show top scoring with 26 points. Poonam was too slow to match Stephy’s array of moves in the post-Kerala also played tight man-to-man defense on Chhattisgarh’s guards, hounding their passers and putting extra pressure on the lobs to Poonam inside.

Stephy Nixon and was ably supported by her fellow mates from KSEB captain Jeena PS with 22 points and Neenumol the Player from Kerala Police came up with 21 points which includes 5 Three pointers for Chhattisgarh it was 6 foot 11 inch Poonam Chaturvedi who was taken as the Most Valuable Player came up with 33 points to her score followed by Sharanjeeth Kaur with 21 points

In Men final ONGC got off to the best possible start they could hope for, Internationals Yadwinder Singh and Vishesh Bhrighunvashi provided the early scoring. The India captain was especially fired up, aggressively driving to the basket in transition and somehow finding a way to finish. ONGC’s 20-0 start stunned IOB, who were struggling to get their offense going in the first quarter. Pratham Singh was the only player able to penetrate and finish, scoring all of his team’s 6 first quarter points. Down 27-6 entering the second quarter, IOB quietened ONGC by going on a scoring run of their own, led by Pratham Singh and forward Aravind Annadurai. Pratham found his touch from long range in the second quarter, knocking down a couple of triples, while Aravind operating in the paint for his buckets. IOB closed down ONGC’s margin only to 5 points at the end of first half. The veterans played their part for IOB in the third quarter, keeping them in the contest. Guard Hareesh Koroth came alive knocking down a tough double-pump jumper, followed by a big triple. Senior forward Mihir Pandey (10 points) showed his dexterity in the low post scoring a couple of baskets to cut ONGC’s lead. IOB went on a mini-run with Pratham getting to the basket a couple of times on and-1 finishes to give IOB their first lead of the game. But ONGC matched IOB’s scoring in the third quarter, led by Vishesh’s strong drives to the basket. Point guard Riyazuddin hit a timely 3-pointer, while Yadwinder Singh’s aggression in the post yielded success.

In the final period, with IOB down by 4 points, IOB’s big men Mihir Pandey and Aravind Annadurai played the low post-high post game, with Aravind (13 points) finishing off nice feeds from Mihir. Pratham Singh was emphatic in his penetration and drawing fouls, but his outside shooting was off the mark, which deeply hurt IOB but in transition ONGC, Vishesh kept pushing the tempo, using his athleticism to finish strong. Yadwinder’s play in the fourth quarter proved to be the X-factor today, as he knocked down surprising deep jumpers. ONGC pulled away to establish a 10-point lead with under 5 minutes of play left where IOB’s offensive troubles continued in the final minutes. Trideep Rai had a late 3 pointer and Riyaz Uddin two late transition buckets sealed the deal for ONGC as they blew the game wide open and registered a 73-57 victory.

Bronze for Army Red and Telenganna
Army Red defeated Vijaya Bank Bangalore 76-66 while Telangana avenged their defeat they g had uin the lague round beat south-east railway Bilaspur 65-56 to claim the Bronze Medal

Detailed Results

WOMEN:FINAL

Kerala – 80(,Stephy Nixon 26, Jeena PS 22,Neenumol PS21 ,Anjanna PG9 ) bt Chhattisgarh -71 (Poonam Chaturvedi 33, Saranjeet Kaur 21, Riya B 12)

BRONZE MEDAL WOMEN

Telenganna-65(Gayathir H20,Divya P18,Ramya10,Jincy10) South-east Central Railways, Bilaspur-56 (Seema Singh26Bharathi 11)

BRONZE MEDAL MEN

Army Red -76(Mayur Bhat 23,Jairam Jatt16, Vivekananda Das 12 Ramesh K 10) bt Vijaya Bank Bangalore-66(Aravind A25,Rajesh u14,Navin13)

Details of Kerala Players

• 1.Jeena PS (C) ,Age 22, Kerala State Electricity Board Thiruvanthapuram ,Natiev Place Wayanad
• 2.Neenumol P S,Age 24 Kerala Police, Native Place Wayand
• 3.Stephy Nixon ,Age 24, Kerala State Electricity Board Thiruvanthapuram, Native Place Koratty Thrissur
• 4.Athira M,Age 24 Kerala Police , Native Place Kannur
• 5.Rojamol G ,Age 24 Kerala State Electricity Board Thiruvanthapuram, Native Place Muhamma Alapuzha
• 6.Anjanna P G Age 22, Kerala State Electricity Board Thiruvanthapuram, Native Place Kollam
• 7.Rhea Jinendran , Age 21 Providence College, Native Place Calicut
• 8.Athulya N Age 21 Providence College, Native Place Calicut
• 9.ElizabethH illarios – Age 20 ,Providence College, Native Place Calicut
• 10.Vinaya Joseph- Age 20, St Xaviers College Aluva ,Native Place Kochi
• 11.Vimmy Varkey – Age 19, St Josephs College Irinjalakuda, Native Place Koratty
• 12.Kavitha Jose Age 19. Assumption College Changancherry, Native Place Banduduka ,Kasargod

Team Coached by Antony P C ,Ex Sports Council Coach from Thrissur and Sunny P J from Thrissur
Managed by Sassedharan from Kozhikode