Golden Gate International College (GGIC) knocked out Kirtipur Basketball Team with an 81-65 victory as all remaining three teams for Kwiks Basketball League playoffs were confirmed on Saturday. 

GGIC, Bishal Milank Kendra (BMK) and Himalayan Hounds will now join leaders Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) in the playoffs. In the playoffs, TAC, 36 points from 12 consecutive victories, will meet the fourth-placed team with the second and third positioned meeting each other in the other match for a place in the final.

GIC have 27 points from 13 matches and they are in pole position to finish second provided they beat TAC in their last game. Hounds have 24 points and they will need a huge-margin victory over Kirtipur in their last league game to avoid a meeting with TAC. BMK, also on 27 points, are currently second on head-to-head results with GGIC.

Kirtipur needed big margin victories in their remaining three matches to stay alive in the tournament but a collective show from GGIC sunk them. Bikram Dangol posted 19 points for GGIC at his home court, while Binod Shrestha scored 16 and Rajiv Joshi had 13 poins and eight rebounds. Anish Shahi Thakuri also took 10 rebounds for GGIC.

GGIC began the day with a slim two-point (18-16) lead in the first quarter and stretched it to 16 points adding another 24 to that of 10 from Kirtipur. The visitors only managed to reduced the deficit to 15 points with a 14-13 lead in the third quarter. They gave the best performance of the day in the final period but GGIC managed to control it 26-25.

Anil Khadgi Shahi dropped in six 3-pointers in his 21 points and took eight rebounds for Kirtipur. Abhishek Singh netted 19 and Sumanga Bogati had 11 points and seven rebounds. Diveshwar Sah took 10 rebounds for the losing side who are also left to play South Siders Basketball Club. 

In the second match of the day in Bishalnagar, Bikash Gurung gave second best individual performance of the tournament scoring 36 points as BMK eased to an 84-77 victory over bottom side Xavier International College. Bibek Shrestha also netted 21 points for the home team. 

The closely-contested first quarter was locked on 24-24 but BMK built a seven-point lead taking the second period 23-16. Xavier remained in the game leading the third quarter 17-16 as the two teams headed into the decider with BMK leading by six points. BMK, however, made sure they don’t drop a point taking the final quarter 21-20. 

Apart from the Hounds-Kirtipur clash at Shankar Dev Campus, Sunday will also see TAC welcoming South Siders with eyes firmly set on their 13th consecutive victory. South Siders are sixth with 12 points from 12 matches. 

Team Budanilkantha Municipality (9 pts) and Xavier (6 pts) are seventh and eight respectively in what is Nepal’s first ever home and away double round robin league basketball event.

Standings

Team P W L Diff Pts

Army 12 12 0 276 36

BMK 14 9 5 17 27

GGIC 13 9 4 125 27

Hounds 13 8 5 -11 24

Kirtipur 12 5 7 -94 15

Siders 12 4 8 -37 12

TBM 14 2 10 -143 9

Xavier 14 2 10 -133 6