Lahore crowned Inter Division National Basketball champs

ISLAMABAD: Lahore outplayed Islamabad 100-59 in the final to win the Inter Division National Basketball Championship title at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

The five-day tournament, organised by the Federal Basketball Association, featured the top eight divisional teams – Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Hazara, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Military Attaché of Embassy of Russia in Pakistan Col Surgey A Tyurin was the chief guest while Joint Secretary Ministry of IPC Fayyazul Haq, Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) President Brig (retired) Iftikhar Mansoor, Senior Vice President Imtiaz Rafi Butt, Secretary General Khalid Bashir, Federal Basketball Association (FBBA) President Ejaz Butt, Secretary General Ouj e Zahoor, Deputy Director General Pakistan Sports Board Ch Saeed Akhtar, Muhammad Azam Dar and other dignities also attended the closing ceremony.

In the final, Lahore dominated from started to finish and never allowed their opponents to make a comeback in the match at any stage. They led 52-32 at the halfway stage.

Safiullah was the leading scorer for Lahore with 21 points while their other ace player Taimur Mehdi contributed 14. Ashrab Butt (25) and Bakhtawar (7) were the main players for Islamabad.

Earlier in the third position match, Faisalabad outclassed Peshawar 55-43. Faheem Sattar (18) and Hanan Tariq (17) led Faisalabad scorers.

The services of past players who have dedicated their lives to basketball were also recognised at the closing ceremony. Din Muhammad, Maj (retired) Asad Pervaiz, Prof Sirajul Haq Qureshi, Riaz Malik, Moudood Jafri and Muhammad Yaqoob were honoured with lifetime achievement awards.