Irinjalakuda,17th April: Indian Bank with four senior internationals playing in their side won the Punelliparampil Johnson Memorial South India Basketball Tournament for men by beating  Central GST and Customs, Kochi by a score line of 88-52 here at the Christ Engineering College flood lit basketball stadium on Sunday. 

Earlier Sree Kerala Varma College stunned KSEB by winning a tight contest by score line of 61-60 to claim the bronze medal.

Kerala Varma  had a good start and lead 35-23 at the half time but KSEB reduced their deficit at the end of third quarter making the score line 40-45 . With one minute to go for the final whistle, from a basket through Prem Prakash KSEB  took  a one point lead for first time, but could not cling onto it as Kerala Varma players overcame the pressure at the dying minute to win the match by a point.

On Saturday, Central GST and Customs defeated KSEB by a margin of 85-79 to meet Indian Bank Chennai in the finals.

Sanjayan Kumar IFS, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs and Secretary, Kerala State Sports Council  distributed the trophies and cash awards at the closing ceremony.

Detailed Scores

Final

Indian Bank Chennai 88(Hariram 27,Baladaneswar 19,Surya11) bt Central GST and Customs Kochi-52(Shinumon Augustine 15,Robin10)

3rd Position Match

Sree Kerala varma College Thrissur  60(Antony Johnson 23,Shirass Muhammed 19) bt KSEB Trivandrum-60 (Sharath17,Srerag N Nair 17,Jishnu G Nair 12,Prem Prakash10)

Saturday Group Match

Central GST and Customs-85 (Eudric Perera 22,Amit Sebastian15,Robin S 15,Basil Phlip 13,Nikhil KR 12) bt KSEB Trivandrum-79(Sreerag N Nair 31, Jishnu G Nair 20)