Cagers suffer close loss

Hosts Bangladesh completed their Treat FIBA Asian U-18 Basketball Championship Qualifiers campaign with a heart-breaking 60-64 defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium yesterday.

Bangladesh dominated the show from the outset to take a comfortable 39-17 lead in the first half but they failed to carry their momentum into the second half as they conceded a third successive defeat. Jamil and Tahsin scored 16 and 15 points respectively for Bangladesh, who had earlier suffered a 31-90 defeat to eventual champions India before suffering a 54-57 loss to Nepal on Wednesday night.

“To be honest, we didn't have enough preparations to compete at this level. Besides, our players also lack fundamental basics and skills. So the boys could not maintain their tempo despite being in advantageous positions against both Nepal and Sri Lanka,” said Bangladesh Basketball Federation general secretary AK Sarker.

On the other hand, India emerged unbeaten champions with a massive 117-40 win over Nepal to qualify for the 16-team Asian U-18 Championship to be held in Iran from July 15-24.