ONGC find their range in the last quarter to pip Services in Savio Cup bascketball

ONGC hoopsters find their range in the last quarter to pip Services in Savio Cup Final

They shot to kill, literally. For most part of the match, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India Ltd trailed Services in the final of the fifth edition of the Savio Cup Basketball tournament sponsored by United Phosphorous at the Don Bosco courts yesterday.



But just when it seemed that ONGC would succumb to their inability to convert scoring opportunities into points, they began to get their focus right. So, from attempting to score points from near impossible positions and angles, they started finding the hoop with more consistency in the last quarter, and from being 46-38 down in the third quarter, they recovered, not only to wipe off the eight-point deficit, but to eventually open up a substantial lead and win the celebrated tournament 63-56.

They scored as many as 23 points as opposed to Services' 10 in the last quarter.

ONGC coach Durgesh Bhatia admitted that his team was a bit inconsistent as far as scoring was concerned, but insisted it didn't affect their gameplan. "The rate of conversion (baskets) was a touch disappointing initially.

But our focus was more on defence," he said. He also said that the scoring attempts by some of the players, despite being out of position, were more due to the adrenaline rush.

"These things happen. Each player wants to contribute in a manner where, at the end of the day, he achieves hero status. It happened even during our playing days. I have gone through such a thing.

"But since we have won, these things are now negligible," Bhatia said.