Mohammad Azam Dar
ISLAMABAD, Feb 01: Islamabad defeated Faisalabad Division 52-49 points after a nerve-wracking match to win the crown of Quaid-e-Azam Cup Inter-Division Basketball Tournament here at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex.
Islamabad Reds, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Hazara, Islamabad Blues and Faisalabad Division participated in the tournament based on pool rounds matches organised by the Federal Basketball Association (FBBA).
In the decisive final, there was a tough competition between Islamabad Reds and Faisalabad Division was seen as until half-time, Faisalabad was leading by 26 points against 24. Islamabad players Yasir Abbas and Attique Khan took four consecutive points in the last minute of the final to play vital role in Islamabad becoming champion of the tournament, beating Faisalabad by 52-49 points. Yasir Abbas scored 22, Attique Khan 14, Rizwan Khursheed scored 12 points respectively for Islamabad’s victory.
Chief guest Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ehsan Mazari distributed prizes among the players and officials in the closing ceremony and also appreciated the efforts made by Pakistan Basketball Federation and Federal Basketball Association for the promotion of basketball.
Also, Commander North Rear Admiral Masood Khurshid, Acting Director General Pakistan Sports Board Mohammad Abrar, Secretary General of Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) Khalid Bashir, Secretary Organizing Committee Ouj E Zahoor, Senior Vice President PBBF Imtiaz Rafi Butt, President Federal Basketball Association Ejaz Butt, Former Coach of national basketball team Malik M Riaz, DDG and PSB Ch Saeed Akhtar and sizeable spectators witnessed the final match.
