Bishal Milan Kendra (BMK) climbed to the third spot of the Kwiks Basketball League with an 88-69 victory away to Team Budanilkanta Municipality (TBM) on Wednesday.

At the Golfutar basketball court, Bikash Gurung rolled in a whooping 31 points and player of the match Bibek Shrestha made the impact all around the court handing BMK their third victory in fifth match. BMK leapfrogged Himalayan Hounds to fourth in score difference after they were tied on nine points.

Kirtipur Basketball Team also have nine points from three games and stay second in the table on score difference. Another unbeaten side and title contenders Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) are firmly leading the table with 15 points from five consecutive victory.

BMK took the game away from TBM on a back of a solid performance in the first two quarters as the hosts were only left to reduce the defeat margin in second half. BMK led the first quarter 20-8 and built a 25-point lead heading into the third quarter scoring 27 and restrict TBM to 14.

TBM led the third quarter 25-20 and another one-point lead in the final quarter 22-21 remained just a formality for the winning side. While Gurung sunk in three 3-pointers, Shrestha scored 26 points, took 14 rebounds and had six steals. Sandesh Tamang netted 10 points, made six assists and had five steals. Bimal Karki also scored 10 points.

Saugat Deep Singh poured in 14 points and had three assists, while Utsav Chand scored 12 points and Aditya Sharma knocked 10. Tejendra Gurung had seven rebounds for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Bipendra Maharjan returned to the side as Golden Gate International College (GGIC) thumped 76-63 South Siders Basketball Club. Veteran and former national team skipper to condemn Siders to their fourth consecutive defeat in the tournament—three of them at home. GGIC now have six points from five games to stay at the fifth spot.

At the St Xavier’s College court in Maitighar, GGIC went ahead 24-17 in the first quarter before Siders took the second 10 minutes 14-13 to reduce the deficit to six points. GGIC, however, extended the lead to 12 points scoring 22 to that of 16 from their opponents and sealed the victory taking the final quarter 17-16.

Player of the match Maharjan scored 22 points, had 10 rebounds and made four assists. Rajiv Joshi contributed 10 points and four assists, while Anish Shahi Thakuri (17) and Manish Raj Rajopadhyaya (15) combined for 32 rebounds between them.

Minesh Shakya had the best game for Siders scoring 22 and taking 14 rebounds. Wisdom Pandey had two 3-pointers in his 17 points. On Friday, winless Xavier International College will host Kirtipur in their fourth match.