
MAY 26: Bombay Engineering Group BEG, Kirkee scored their second victory in two matches upsetting Central Railway 76-64 in a Pool A match of the Savio Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament for men, sponsored by Pepsi and Killer Jeans, at the Don Bosco School court, Matunga.
Yesterday, in the opening day of the tournament, BEG had defeated Chembur YMCA and have to only beat Bombay YMCA in the last league match to qualify for the semi-final.
BEG, who have the advantage of having a fit team which can survive the heat and humidity, got a further boost when Central Railway8217;s two tall players, Fazil Shaikh, all of six foot nine inches, and Shaji Mathew walked in late for the match. Fazil has been in cracking form for the Railway outfit, scoring many baskets by taking advantage of his reach.
BEG8217;s speed got the Central Railway initially and they held on to a slender lead that they got initially. Though the experienced Mohd Riyaz and ebulliant Zafar Ansari controlled the game well for Central Railway, BEG defence did a good job in blocking several Railway attempts. BEG were getting good enough baskets through Gurmit Singh who repeatedly cut into the area and scored through lay-ups. Atmaram Jat was sinking shots off the floor and the man of the match, Sanjay Sawant did a good job of restricting Fazil Shaikh, though Shaikh did score 22 points.
Results Pool A: BEG 76 Atmaram Jat 27, Gurmit Singh 15, Sanjay Sawant 15 bt Central Railway 64 Fazil Shaikh 22, Mohd Riyaz 21; Central Railway 75 M Riyaz 23, S Shaikh 16, Fazil 12, Mathews 11 bt Bombay YMCA Ibrahim Lakdawala 18, Sirajuddin Khan 17.