Golden Gate International Club inched closer to the Nepal Basketball League playoffs with a convincing 89-67 victory away to Kirtipur Basketball Team on Wednesday.

Golden Gate are heading for a three-way tie with Nepal Police Club and Budhanilkantha Municipality with only two berth remaining for the top four spots for playoffs. If all three teams win their remaining one match each, they will be locked on 22 points each and the head-to-head score difference between the team concerned will come into play.

All the three teams have played each other home and away, its Budhanilkantha who will bear the brunt since they trail both NPC and Golden Gate on head-to-head score difference. Budhanilkantha and NPC will play away to Royal Basketball Club in their last remaining match, while Golden Gate will host minnows Kirtipur.

Budhanilkantha can only qualify if both Golden Gate and NPC win their last matches. If all three teams win, NPC will finish third ahead of Golden Gate. Times International Club (24 pts) and Tribhuvan Army Club (23 pts) have already qualified for playoffs. The Army men can finish at the top of the table if they win both their remaining matches. Times are playing Royal in their last match on Friday.

On Wednesday, hosts Kirtipur trailed in their home court after Golden Gate established a slim four-point (21-17)  lead in the first quarter. The defending champions stretched the lead to 11 points scoring 24 in the second quarter with Kirtipur adding 17.

The holders raced away in the third quarter rolling in 26 points and stopping the hosts on just 16. An 18-17 lead in the final quarter put their one foot in the playoffs. Rajiv Joshi sunk four 3-pointers in his 19 points, while captain Bipendra Maharjan netted 15 points, made 10 assists and took seven rebounds. Binod Shrestha also netted 12 for them.

Paras Yonjan scored 16 points for the losing side and Anil Khadgi Shahi had 12 points. Kirtipur are fifth in the table with 13 points from 11 matches. In a match between two already-eliminated teams, South Siders Basketball Club will take on Kirtipur.