Leading all quarters from the beginning NASA beat Prime 89-52. Robin Khatri top scored for NASA with 26 points as they led 28-18, 26-16, 12-7, 23-11 in all the four quarters.
In other matches, defending champions Golden Gate, Xavier Int´l and Nepal Army emerged victorious. [break]
Golden Gate recorded a comfortable 76-38 win over Saipal. Taking an easy control in the match, Golden Gate led all the quarters 25-8, 18-11, 16-11, 17-8. Sushil Gurung contributed 20 points for the winning side.
Likewise, Xavier Int´l hammered Naya Bazaar 72-43. Xavier were ahead in all quarters other than third --10-11. They won other quarters, 24-12, 15-5, 21-13. Shankar Maharjan netted the highest 18 points for the winning side.
Nepal Army eased past Premier 55-28 to hand them second defeat in a row. Army took a narrow 12-10 lead in the initial quarter but widened lead in other 10-4, 17-10, 16-4.Nimesh Panthi scored 21 points for Army.
In other men´s league matches on Friday, Golden Gate will play against Naya Bazaar, NASA will take on White House B, Pentagon will meet Nakkhipot and Revolver will play against Nawa Jyoti. In women´s section title holders Prime will play against Xavier Int´l.
NNIPA support players
Nepal National and International Players Association (NNIPA) on Thursday provided financial support to players and their family in the capital.
NNIPA provided ailing handball coach and former national football player Ranjan Bista with a financial support of Rs 50,000. Bista is suffering from cancer. The NNIPA also presented late wushu volunteer coach Chitra Bahadur Lamichhane´s family with Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 to late Gyaljan Lama´s family. Lama had died while playing inter-school football.
Meanwhile, Bal Mukunda Rupakheti of Gurans Life Insurance handed Bista and Lamichhane and Lama´s family with Rs 5,000 each. On the same occasion, former general secretary of NNIPA Kumar Karki currently residing in America provided Lamichine and Lama´s family with Rs 5000 each. Karki also presented injured taekwondo player Ashok Khadka with Rs 10,000. Similarly, Balambu Wushu Quan gave away Rs 5000 to Lamichhane´s family.
Shramik, Vanasthali qualify for final
Shramik Shanti and Siddhartha Vanasthali made it through to the final round of Coca Cola Cup Inter-school Boys National Football Tournament on Thursday.
Shramik Shanti piped in Somang Academy 1-0 at the Chyasal grounds. Surya Kumar Guragain scored the lone goal in the 36th minute for Shramik Shanti.
Likewise, Siddhartha beat Gyanodaya Bal Batika 3-2. Achyut KC netted twice for Siddhartha in the 36th and 48th minute before Anil Gauchan scored in the 34th minute. Earlier, Rakesh Lochan had scored an own goal in the 29th minute to hand Gyanodaya a lead while Dipen Limbu added another in the 69th minute.
Following the results, NIMS, Birendra Sainik, Shramik Shanti and Siddhartha Vanasthali qualified for the final round of tournament from Central Region. Gandaki, and Kaski have qualified from Western and Little Flowers, Haraichha Model and Bhagwati from eastern. Similarly, Surya Jyoti from Mid-western and Thekraj from Far-western region have been selected for the final round. Now only one team is to be selected from the Western region for the final round of tournament.
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