Thaindian News

Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Hosts Tamil Nadu pulled off a brilliant 74-70 extra-time win against last year?s runners-up Services to enter the men?s final in the 62nd senior National Basketball championship here on Friday after the two teams ended full-time tied at 66-all.

However, Tamil Nadu met with reverse in the women?s semi-finals as they lost to the defending champions, Indian Railways, 41-74, a result that was no surprise. Railways take on Chattisgarh who survived a strong second-half challenge from last year?s runners-up Delhi to win 59-56.

In the final Saturday, the Tamil Nadu men take on Punjab who swept past inconsistent defending champions Indian Railways 95-57.

The young Tamil Nadu team that was revamped ahead of the championship with inclusion of new faces, started off strongly, taking the first quarter 17-9 and the second 28-24 to go into the break leading 45-33.

However, on resumption, it was Services who dominated the proceedings, all but outplaying the hosts in the next two quarters as the teams ended the match tied on 66.

It was anybody?s match thereafter, but Tamil Nadu came up with crucial baskets in the extra-time to storm into the final to raise visions of the period when they had won the title five times in a row between 1999 and 2003.

The decisive moment in the extra-time came when Tamil Nadu?s top scorer Saravana Rajan sank three free-throws following a foul to keep his team in front. Another couple of baskets ensured Tamil Nadu a victory.

Topping the scorers? chart for Tamil Nadu, who had scalped Railways in the league phase, were Mihir Pandey (20) and Saravana Rajan (18) while for Services, it was Narender Grewal (20).

Star player Geethu Anna Jose (25) spearheaded Railways? rout of Tamil Nadu in the women?s semi-finals that was effectively sealed at the half-way mark with the champions leading 46-20. The hosts barely got a toe-hold in the match with Railways proving superior in every department of the game.

The results (semi-finals):

Men: Tamil Nadu 74 (Mihir Pandey 20, Saravana Rajan 18) bt Services 70 (Narender Grewal 20, Vipin K 15). Ht: 45-33.

Punjab 95 (Talwinder Singh 30, Amritpal Singh 21, Amjyot Singh 20) bt Indian Railways 57 (Gagandeep Singh 27). Ht: 48-31.

Women: Indian Railways 74 (Geethu Anna Jose 25, Anitha Paul Durai 15, Manisha S.Dange 12) bt Tamil Nadu 41 (Sangeetha.V 12, Neena Harendran 9, Apoorva Murilianth 8). Ht: 46-20.

Chhattisgarh 59 (Seema Singh 30, L Deepa 13) bt Delhi 56 (Prashanti Singh 20, Asha Hegde 13, Neha Joshi 11). Ht: 35-28.