Kathmandu, May 17 (IANS): The senior Indian men’s team routed Maldives 108-32 to be crowned champions at the third South Asian Basketball Association Championship 2014.
India’s greater international experience, height, speed, skill, endurance and strength were too much to handle for the Maldivians.
India’s suffocating half court defence meant that Maldives were rarely able to get within 15 feet of the basket. On the contrary, India virtually set up camp in the opposition court.
Forwards Amjyot Singh, Riken Pethani and centre Amrit Mann combined for more than 10 dunks in the lopsided contest.
By half-time, India led by a whopping 64-16 margin and after threatening to cross the 100-point scoring barrier in the earlier matches, finally registered a 108-32 victory.
With this win, India finished an unbeaten 4-0 in the tournament after earlier beating Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
As the number one team in South Asia, India have now qualified for the much tougher Asia Cup to be held in Wuhan, China in mid-July, where sterner tests against Asian powerhouses China, Iran and the Philippines await.