Pune: Punjab Steelers defeated defending champions Delhi Capitals 82-73 to get their UBA Pro Basketball League Season-3 campaign off to a good start. In a game that saw both teams commit a number of fouls, as many as five players were replaced during the course of the game.

Akhilesh Kumar was the star of the day for the Punjab Steelers, scoring 26 points, most of them coming off free throws. It was a remarkable performance from young Akhilesh on his UBA debut.

Punjab Steelers were quick, finishing the first quarter, three points ahead of their rivals. The quarter, which saw fouls from both sides and a number of free throws, ended with Punjab leading 24-21.

Delhi Capitals started the second quarter on the right note, and turned the deficit in no time. Like the first quarter, the second quarter was also dominated by a lot of fouls, with both teams struggling to gain any rhythm or momentum. Capitals took a momentary lead, before Steelers struck back. A superb three-pointer from Rajveer Singh in the dying seconds allowed the Steelers to lead by six points (41-35). Akhilesh Kumar alone had scored 13 points from 17 free throws for the Steelers by half-time. The first half saw a total of 40 free throws taken, accounting for the high foul count.

The Delhi boys fought back in the third quarter, with Vinay Kaushik leading the way. Kaushik, last season’s MVP award winner, came up with some strong and aggressive field goals which allowed the Delhi Capitals to erase the deficit and take the lead. Some smart two-pointers from Akhilesh kept the Steelers in the game, but Capitals finished the penultimate quarter of the game at 57-55.

The final quarter was played at a good pace, with the lead switching from one team to another on more than one occasion. Harmandeep Singh and Akhilesh Kumar came up with quality field goals to give Steelers a 70-67 lead with a little over four minutes to play. Steelers added four more points in quick succession, with Akhilesh’s clever move earning him another two points, as his team opened up a sizable lead. Harmandeep’s two-pointer took the Steelers lead to eight points, and that proved to be a bit too much for the defending champions.

Final score-
Punjab Steelers - 82 & Delhi Capitals - 73