WAPDA overcome Pakistan Army 73-70 in a nerve-jangling basketball final
Mohammad Azam Dar
LAHORE: Pakistan Wapda emerged victorious in a nail-biting final against the Pakistan Army and clinched the title of the National Men’s Basketball Championship 2023 Trophy at Government College University Lahore on Friday. Pakistan WAPDS got rid of the Pakistan Army by 73-70.
Both teams displayed exceptional skills and tenacity and fought until the final moments. Wapda, however, seized control in the last quarter, securing a thrilling 73-70 victory. Zainul Hassan of Wapda emerged as the hero of the day, contributing a stellar performance with 28 points, while teammates Mohammad Usman and Mohammad Zahid Arif added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Despite a valiant effort from Army, Wapda's dominance in the closing stages proved decisive. Tughlab Ammar led the scoring for Army with 24 points, followed by Shoaib Aslam with 19 points and Sheraz Aslam with 12 points. The officiating team of Umer Mehmood, Syed Adnan Ali, and Saadat Jehangir ensured a fair and competitive match.
Earlier, in the third position play-off, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) secured a convincing 90-61 victory against Lahore, claiming the third position. The closely contested match saw PAF with a slight 38-37 lead at halftime. Mohammad Akhtar (24 points), Ahmed Jan (22 points), and Umair Jan (11 points) were the top scorers for PAF, while Saboor Mehdi (20 points), Ahmed Abbas (12 points), and Salman Rafiq (10 points) stood out for Lahore. Yaqoob Qadri, Syed Adnan Ali, and Ghulam Mohammad Memon officiated the match.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr. Asif Tufail graced the closing ceremony as the chief guest, presenting the winning trophy to the captain of the Pakistan Wapda team. DIG Police Ghazi Mohammad Salahuddin and GCU Lahore Vice Chancellor Dr. Ahmed Adnan were the guests of honor, awarding the runner-up and third-position trophies to Pakistan Army, and PAF respectively.
The event witnessed the presence of notable figures, including PBBF President Brig Mohammad Iftikhar Mansoor (R), Senior Vice President Imtiaz Rafi Butt, Secretary Khalid Bashir, National Coach Malik Mohammad Riaz, Prof Sirag ul Haq Qureshi, Din Mohammad, Waseem Akhtar, Shahid Mirza, Tajamal Riaz, and players and students of the university.
