Pune: Bengaluru Beast got the better of Pune Peshwas 82-74 in the second game of Day 5 of the UBA Pro Basketball League Season 2, here on Monday.
Last year’s runners-up Peshwas had dropped their first encounter against the Beast and were looking for revenge in today’s head-to-head between the teams.
Beast did not have the services of their first-choice point guard Raghuram and started with their backup Akinjeet instead. Playing in front of a raucous Pune home crowd, the Bengaluru team got off a good start with their centre Somveer powering his way past the undersized Peshwas frontcourt. Peshwas centre Rvai Kumar was ineffective today, especially on the defensive end. The Beast ended the first quarter up by 5 points 22-17.
However, the Peshwas clawed back into the game in the second quarter led by their dynamic guard Ajinkya Mane. He found his touch from the outside and used his quickness and athleticism to penetrate and finish as well. Backup centre Gaurav Ohlan used his length effectively in the post to contribute to his team’s offense.
The first half ended with the Peshwas holding a slim 1-point lead 41-40. In the third quarter, the Beast players stepped up. Forward Manjeet started knocking down his mid-range jumpers and his teammate Kaife Zia drained a 3 pointer late in the third to put some gap between the two teams. Beast guard Yashas Ramesh (17 points) was effective throughout the game using his speed in transition for easy buckets.
It was anyone’s game in the fourth as the lead remained in single digits throughout. Bengaluru went with a small lineup consisting of four Jain players (Kaife, Yashas, Hrishikesh, Visu) along with Manjeet. Hrishikesh Naidu was big down the stretch for the Beast, converting some cruicial buckets in the paint, including a bucket with a minute left in the game to extend Beast lead to 6 points. Peshwas were unable to find the bottom of the basket in the final minutes and the Beast closed out the game 82-74. Yashas Ramesh was awarded player of the match.
“Our objective was to go with a small lineup and use our speed to beat Pune. Our youngsters played terrific defense as well, especially on Pune’s international player Narender Grewal” said Beast assistant coach Puneet Suresh after the game. The Beast has now won 2 out of their 3 games and are in second place in their group.
Meanwhile, The evening was made extra special by the presence of former India cricketer Vinod Kambli, singer/actor Ali Quli Mirza and Pune-based entrepreneur and columnist Mr Tehseen Poonawalla.
“This UBA Pro Basketball League is a good start. It is in second season now and we need to give it time to grow. It is like planting a seed. Basketball fever has to go all over the country. It has to reach each and every sportsperson, especially the young generation which loves basketball,” said Kambli.
Result:
Bengaluru Beast (Yashas Ramesh 17, Kaife Zia 17, Somveer 16) bt Pune Peshwas (Ajinkya Mane 18, Siddhant Shinde 16, Narender Grewal 11) 82-74 (22-17, 18-24, 18-12, 24-21).
