Airmen fly high then crash land

By Lal Gunesekera

BASKETBALL: Air Force scored a 87 points to 72 win over Wennappuwa BC after leading 43-26 at half time in their Men's 'A' Division game of the Colombo District Basketball Association (CDBA) Super League Championships at the Depot Police courts.

Asanga Perera was in top form for the Airmen with 42 points, while Ravi Dodangoda (24) and Indika Wijesinghe (17) too chipping in with valuable play. For Wennappuwa, Chalinda Fernando (18), Malinda Fernando (14) and Roshel Mendis (14) were the main scorers.

Colombo Stallions beat Cambrians 73-53 after leading 45-35 at the short blast in a Men's 'C' Division game with Adam Flamer Caldera (23), Ahmed Shafie (20) and Richard Sandrasagara (14) being the top scorers, while Sudesh Nonis (23) was the main scorer for Cambrians.

Police beat Air Force 95-64 with Sujith Master (25), Gazali Razack (22), Vajira Kumarasingha (19) and Ravi Cooray (12) being the top scorers, while Ravi Dodangoda (22) and Asanga Perera (22) were the pick for the Airmen.

SMI beat Kelaniya University 82-38 after leading 32-17 at the short whistle i a Men's 'C' Division game with Ashan Meewella (16), Fazrin Ibrahim (16) and Farmil Farook (14) the main scorers, while for the undergrads, W. M. S. Silva (22) did most of the scoring. In another Men's 'C" Division game, CIS beat Wennappuwa 79-70 after being led 30-34 at half time with Jonathan Solomons (35) the match winner, while Nalaka Maduranga (20), C. Fernando (16) and Ranjula Rowel (16) were the best for Wennapuwa.

Also in the Men's 'C' Division, Colombo Stallions beat SMI 68-45 after leading 35-27 at the short blast with Wimarshana Wijesiri (17), Chameera Wijendra (12) and Adam Flamer-Caldera (12) being the main scorers, while Dinal Perera (15) and Farmil Farook (10) were the best for SMI. Ambalangoda BC beat Old Bens 65-56 after leading 26-25 at short time in their Men's 'B' Division game with Gemunu Sandaruwan (20), Harshadeva Yasaratne (19) and Banu Ratnayake (13) being the top scorers, while Nishan Eranda (19), Mahil Egodawatte (14) and Jude Saranga (15) did well for Old Bens.

Also in the Men's 'B' Division, Kandy Cagers beat Colombo University 68-61 after being led 31-34 at the breather with Lakshitha Abeyratne (21), Kapil Dev (17) and Maduranga Munasinghe (10) being the match winners, while Rowen Muthalip (17), M. L. R. Samarasekera (17) and Kamaladasa (10) fared well for the undergrads.

Field Force Youth beat St. Eugene's (ex Seminarians) 69-52 after leading 36-26 in the Men's 'C' Division with Chameera Bandara (20), Chathura Hewalunuwila (12) and Nilanka Rupasinghe (11) being the top scorers, while Angelo Perera (19) and Susitha Fernando (19) did well for St. Eugene's.

Defending champions of the Men's 'B' Division, Nugegoda Cagers, beat All-Greens 67-61 after leading 37-31 at half time with Chaminda Jayasiri (22) being the top scorer helped by Hasitha Wijeratne (17), Mark Wille (10) and Dharshaka Bandara (10), while Mohamed Fawshan (22), Rishan Rodrigo (14) and Manaram Bandara (10) were the best for All-Greens.

In another Men's 'B' Division game, Sri Jayawardenepura BC beat Buffalos 64-54 after leading 37-27 at the short whistle wit Nuwanga Perera (25), Poson Ranasinghe (17) and Nuwan Indika (13) being the top scorers, while Ranga Pathum (20) and Dimuthu Jayasundera (14) were the best for Buffalos.

DPMC beat Stallions 55-34 after leading 36-20 at half time in a Women's 'B' Division game with Erandi Gallage (16) and Manori Chandima (10) being the top scorers, while Dilini Mahisha (14) and Ruwanthi Prabashi (12) were the best for Stallions.

Nugegoda Cagers beat Jayawardenepura BC 70-65 after leading 33-30 at half time in their 'B' Division Men's game, while in two 'C' Division Men's matches, Field Force Youth beat Moratuwa BC 64-44 after leading 22-19 at the short blast and Police 'B' beat Bohra SC 55-43 after leading 25-23 at the breather.