Pune: The United Basketball Alliance (UBA) Pro Basketball League Season 2 saw some excited Day 4 action, as undefeated south division teams Chennai Slam took on Bengaluru Beast. The defending champs kept finding higher gears to win the game 80-64. Chennai is now 2-0 while Bengaluru Beast is 1-1.
The evening also saw actors Vidya Malavade and Rajeev Paul grace the occasion as celebrity guests.
On Day 4 of the UBA Pro Basketball League Season 2, south powerhouses Chennai Slam and Bengaluru Beast took on each other for the first time. Both Bengaluru and defending champs Chennai won their opening games and were looking to go up 2-0 in the tournament.
In the first quarter, both teams went to their big men down low. Beast forward Manjeet found his touch from mid-range knocking down jumpers to open the scoring for his team. His teammate and centre Somveer was also working hard to earn his points in the post. For the Slam, it was centre Gopal who was showing his touch in the paint piling on the points with his baby hooks.
Chennai’s best scorer Agu was restricted in the early going owing to Beast point guard Raghuram’s tight defense coupled with help defense from his teammates. Beast’s Jain University (Bengaluru) products Kaife Zia and Visu Palani played tight perimeter defense with active hands and by plugging the passing lanes. Kaife also provided the offense for the Beast, using his athleticism to finish at the rim.
The game was close in the first quarter, which ended with Chennai up 21-17.
In the second quarter, however, Chennai turned on the defensive switch employing a full court press, testing the handles of the Beast players. Consecutive turnovers by the Beast led to easy buckets for the Slam. Bench rotation was on display in the game, with both coaches going deep into their rosters. Chennai forward Arjun G K (from Kerala) used his length to create off the dribble and finish in transition. Arjun quickly put up double digits in the first half itself. Slam had multiple offensive weapons to choose from with forward Ashutosh Rai’s timely mid-range jumpers hurting the Beast throughout the game. After Chennai took a 13-point lead at halftime, Beast attempted their comeback in the third quarter.
With Chennai centre Gopal Ram sitting out with foul trouble, the Slam had to go small with Longi (from Nigeria) playing the five. Bengaluru’s Manjeet (15 points) was effective from the mid-range hitting his jumpers. Kaife was impressive with his hustle on the defensive end creating transition opportunities for his team. Beast managed to cut the lead down to 6 points towards the end of the third quarter.
But, in a flash, Chennai turned up the heat on Bengaluru. Agu had a huge chasedown block in the fourth quarter that triggered the Chennai run. Centre Gopal (14 points) came back into the game and forward Ashutosh Rai (16 points) continued hitting his mid-range shots. Slam guard Vignesh Prabhu knocked down a couple of threes late in the fourth to seal the deal for Chennai, as they blew the game wide open and ended up with a 80-64 victory.
Chennai Slam (Ashutosh Rai 16, Gopal 14, Chukwunanu Agu 13, Arjun GK 13) bt Bengaluru Beast (Manjeet 15, Kaife Zia 13, Somveer 9) 80-64 (21-17, 25-16, 16-14, 18-17)
Late evening match from 20th Feb: Pune Peshwas bt Hyderabad Sky
Home team Pune Peshwas had their second game of the tournament on Day 3 against Hyderabad Sky. The fitness level of both teams, who were playing back-to-back games today, was definitely a factor. After losing their opening games yesterday, both squads came out hungry searching for their first victory in the tournament.
Hyderabad Sky switched up their starting lineup bringing forward Monish Wilson into the first five in place of Himanshu Jangra. The Peshwas also brought in forward Edwin Irwin into the starting five in place of Ajinkya Mehta. Sky looked good to begin the game with point guard Joginder Singh finding his touch from 3-point range. The first quarter even featured the first in-game dunk of the tournament from Sky centre Edwin, who elevated in the paint for a powerful two-handed slam. But after their good run to begin the game, Pune stepped up to take over the next three quarters.
It began with their backup centre Gaurav Ohlan showing off his post play to nail buckets on three consecutive possessions. It was then the turn of the Pune guards, who provided a huge offensive burst to the team. Pune point guard and India international Siddhanth Shinde orchestrated the offense well penetrating and kicking out to his teammates for open shots. Pune sixth man Ajinkya Mane provided a big spark off the bench with his shot-making ability. He finished at the basket multiple times and knocked down open 3-pointers.
The real star of the game, however, was Peshwas’ shooting guard Narender Grewal. Hyderabad had no answer for the India international, who pretty much had his way on the offensive end. Whether it was driving to the basket, finishing in transition or shooting 3s, Grewal showcased the full package today and ended up with 37 points in the contest. The game turned into a blowout with Peshwas breaking the team scoring record by hitting the century mark today. The lone bright spark for Sky was the play of Indian-Australian guard Mahesh Padmanabhan (22 points) who kept fighting till the end.
The Peshwas won their first game of Season 2, 104-76, while the Sky will have to search for answers to their disappointing run so far.
Pune Peshwas (Narender Grewal 37, Ajinkya Mane 18, Siddhanth Shinde 17) bt Hyderabad Sky (Mahesh Padmanabhan 22, Joginder Singh 10, Edwin 10) 104-76 (17-16, 31-21, 24-20, 32-19)
About the UBA Pro Basketball League
The UBA Pro Basketball League is structured on a league cum knockout basis. Season 2 is being held in two phases: 18 to 28 Feb in Pune followed by 21st March to 3rd April in Hyderabad. There are eight teams in total divided into two divisions: Pune Peshwas, Delhi Capitals, Haryana Gold, Punjab Steelers (North division) and Chennai Slam, Mumbai Challengers, Bengaluru Beast and Hyderabad Sky (South division). Chennai Slam won the inaugural season last year with Pune Peshwas finishing second.
