Model School from Abu Dhabi walked away with the seventh New Indian Model School (NIMS) mini basketball Inter-School Trophy through an exciting 42-30 win over Cambridge International School, Dubai.
The final was keenly fought with Cambridge trailing by 15 points in the first quarter. They overpowered the Abu Dhabi players in the second and third quarter. Zain Anwar sparkled for Cambridge, scoring eight points consecutively out of 10 in the second quarter. Amal Basil of Model School scored all four points for his school in that quarter.
In the third quarter Cambridge's Kiral Petrouski and Ethan De Chavez scored four points each to strengthen their chances. Model could only score three points through Sethu Dinesh.
Arash Oturkar, who was adjudged the Most Promising Player, played only in the second and third quarters but scored two points for the Cambridge School. His interception and timely passes made it easy for Kiral, Zain and Ethan to convert the baskets.
Jaskaran Vir Singh of Cambridge stood tall against Model boys and equalled at 26-26 in the early stages of the last quarter. At his juncture two quick fouls within the first four minutes of the quarter saw the exit of Jaskaran with five personal fouls.
The Abu Dhabi boys went for the kill and penetrated the Cambridge defence. Tall Masoomullah scored freely to emerge as the top scorer for Model School with 19 points. He got good support from Francis Lazer (10 points). Lazer also won the Player of the Tournament award and guided his school to victory. Earlier, Emirates National School, Sharjah beat Millennium School, Dubai 44-18 for the third place.
M.K. Munir, a minister from the Indian state of Kerala, gave away the prizes in the presence of Shaikh Jabbar Ali, Principal of NIMS, Sharjah, V.V. Abdul Kader, Principal, Model School, Abu Dhabi and Rajender Kumar Herwani, Brand Marketing Manager, Pocari Sweat. The event was sponsored by Bheema Group, Fatheema Group, Al Madina Spare Parts, Interman Computers, Buheira Lacnor and Pocari Sweat.
Results
Abu Dhabi Model School 42 points (Masoomullah 19, Francis Lazer 10, Sishir Sreekumar 6, Amal Basit 3 , Sethu Dinesh 4) bt Cambridge School, Dubai, 30 points (Zain Anwar 14, Kiral Petrouski 8, Jaskaran Vir Singh 2, Ethan De Chavez 4, Arash Oturkar 2).
