Dubai: The ANF All Stars and Knights eased into the men’s final in contrasting ways in the Berry Hills Indian Basketball League that will conclude at the Salahuddin Hall in Al Mamzar this weekend.
The ANF All Stars got the better of City Fives 79-63. Earlier, Shahjahan of the Knights tapped in a basket with six seconds remaining for the final hooter to help his team to an exciting 57-55 win over the Blue Rhine Eagles.
In the first semi-final, the Blue Rhine Eagles started well and maintained the lead at the end of the first three quarters 41-33. But some of the Eagles stars went scoreless as the Knights snatched the initiative and tied the scores 55-55 with a few seconds remaining.
Knights’ Shajahan missed a jumper with six seconds remaining but managed to tap the ball into the basket to steal the close victory with Subin topscoring with 26 points for the winners and Dabas responding with 19 points for the Eagles.
The second semi-final saw the All Stars struggle in the first three quarters, but did well to take control of the game in the final quarter. What may have helped the All Stars’ cause was the 34 personal fouls from City Fives as they went on to win 79-63 in the end.
Earlier, defending champions DPS Sharjah booked their place in the final against last year’s runners-up Jaguars in the women’s competition.
The Jaguars beat Dubai Gems while DPS Sharjah got the better of AVT Falcons to set a re-match of last year’s tournament.
