Bens tops in basketball and hockey

The basketball and the hockey players of St. Benedict's College, Kotahena by winning titles in the past week have rekindled memories of what champion teams of the sixties did.

Before going down memory lane and recalling the 1960s that was the glory years of soccer, basketball and hockey at the green, white and green school, it is but right that we comment on the two teams that won titles in basketball and hockey.

Over the years the Bens 'cagers' and hockey players have been in the thick of things driving and dribbling in both sports, but rarely meeting with success, like the players of the sixties were known to do with monotonous regularity. But this year's basket ballers and the hockey players led by Vishva Palitharatne and Ashan Alles have brushed a side all opposition and have brought glory to the college, by displaying a high standard in both sports.

Royal the losers

And what is unique is that the Bens beat Royal College in both finals - basketball and hockey. That was great and while it would have tasted sweet for the Kotahena school, it would have been bitter and galling for the Reid Avenue school.

According to those close to the two teams, the Bens are oozing with talent, unseen in recent times, where sports in the college took a nose dive, dropping badly in standards.

But to the credit of the effervescent Director of the College, Rev Bro. Granville Perera, it must be said that he took under his wing the coaches of the three sports - soccer, basketball and hockey and the players instilling in them that success is what matters in sport.

But while he hammered it into them that winning is everything, he told them in no uncertain terms that in winning or losing, what matters most and the most important thing of all is how one played the game.

Humble in victory

The Bens cagers and hockey players have done just that and in winning have remained humble, displaying the lofty traditions of their Alma Mater which has won them a huge following.

If the success of the two teams is an indication, then many more trophies should adorn their shelves and they should emulate the teams of the sixties to whom winning came naturally and habitually.

Our cager expert Angu Rajendra, who has played for her Tamil Nadu State with great success and who covered the cager final, speaks very highly of Praveen Ganlath. She says that Ganlath is potential national material.

She was particularly amazed at his left handed hook shots that earned vital points for the Bens. She says that it was his accurate shooting, driving through the small gaps in the Royal defence in the second half that brought them victory.

Praveen a bright future

Angu says that Praveen has a very bright future. Her advice to him is to concentrate a bit more and that if he does just that, it would not be long before he sports national colours. Having been a player Angu knows what she is talking about.

Incidentally, Praveen's father Tony has been a live wire in the OBU and Sports Club of the school having been President of the OBSC when the club enjoyed one of its best years. He is still very supportive of the school and the club.

The basketball coaches are - Asanga Perera and Festus Perera and hockey coach Malraj Pigera. The coaches see to it that the players are always on the court or on the field practising their ploys which they put on display to win matches.

Percy and Cosmas the untouchables

Talking about Praveen Ganlath and his left handed hook shooting that is amazing, brings to mind a similar player, but who did it right handed, sending many a defender the wrong way and plonking baskets which were always winners Percy Perera.

Percy was like a bean pole. Yet he was wiry and would cut, slice and dribble through the slightest of openings in the opposing defence to score wining points for SBC and Old Bens.

That was in the 1960s when the Bens and the Old Bens held sway in the local basketball scene sweeping aside all opposition and wining the champion tag year in and year out, emerging undisputed kings of the cager game.

In that era there were many Indian teams that played in Sri Lanka and Perera was at his brilliant best and many were the opposing players and officials who commended Perera for his wonderful play predicting a great future for him.

Percy - Asia's Best Shooter

And Perera did not let his admirers down. Continuing his amazing form, he put all his cunning and brilliant hook shooting on display in the 1964 Asian Games in Singapore if my memory serves me right, wining the award for the 'Best shooter' in Asia award at those Games. That was great honour for the Bens and country.

And in Vishva Palitharatne, one sees a skipper in the mould of Cosmas Perera who led the College and Sri Lanka as the Best all court player in the country and probably Asia. Perera led from the front and by example and had the knack of getting the best out of his team mate Cosmas would practice morning, noon and night getting his every aspect right and when it came to leading the college and the national team, he was way ahead of all other captains, who were doing their utmost to emulate him, with no success. Percy is in Australia and Cosmas in America.

Winning tournament

To hockey and if the way the present hockey team is playing, then they should emulate the teams of the sixties who dominated winning cups and tournaments with ease.

Players of that era who were simply amazing with the curved wand were the Fernando brothers - Stanley, Homer and Subash, Francis Assissi, Anthony McIntyre, Joseph Charles, Batcho Selvaraj, Lovellyn, Joyce and C.P.Rayen and goal keepers Banna Rajaratnam and Jhonny Martin who all played for the country with great aplomb and success.

The coaches of that era were the untouchables - Ram Suntheralingam - basketball - Brian Assey - hockey and Albert Fernando football. Also covering these sports for the Times of Ceylon and Daily Mirror were Bens - Yours truly, Gamini Perera and Premanath Moreas.