The Gregarious clinched their second Premier Division Basketball League title to put an end to Dhaka Gladiators’ two-year domination with style after outplaying the reigning champions 82-60 in the title-decider at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium on June 30.
With 16 points from eight matches, the unbeaten champions lifted the title after two years. It was Gladiators’ first defeat in the league as they finished second with 15 points. Dhumketu became third with 14.
The strength and skill added with the performance of the national players made all the difference in the match and in the second-half Gregs outplayed their rivals bagging 42 points against Gladiators’ 26. Gregarious led the first-half 40-34. Gladiators lost every quarter by 14-19, 20-21, 18-27, 13-15 points.
The three new USA recruits of the Gregs Reginald Holmes, William Walker and Jaraun Burrows all have been in terrific form this season and maintained it on June 30 too. Holmes caged highest 22 points while Burrows scored 13 points. Holmes praised the local players for working hard and mentioned the name of Mithun while asked who impressed him the most. Mithun said they needed the championship and were hopeful after having the best of the local players in the squad.
Soyab, who played for Gregs last season, was the highest scorer for Gladiators with 17 points. “Our target was to become the champions. May be we have our own faults and I think the injury of our key foreign players Cheyenne Moore (back pain) and Jerome James was the main reason for our defeat,” said the national player who also admitted the opponents played better.
The experience for Gregs skipper Rashed was opposite to Soyab. Former national captain Rashed played for Gladiators (formerly known as Europa Youth) in the last two seasons and came out as champions on both occasions.
“Gladiators was like home to me. I formed the team and recruited players. Here the thing is different. We have better local players than them which won us the game. Besides, all our three foreign players are also very good and even better than theirs. Our foreign players played like a team while their foreign players played selfishly,” said Rashed.
“The third quarter was important because players get tired and we showed how better we are in that quarter,” he added. l
