Wapda emerges triumphant in nail-biting National Men's Basketball final

Asher Butt

Pakistan Wapda emerged victorious over Pakistan Army in a thrilling culmination of the National Men's Basketball Championship 2023 on Friday.

Wapda thus secured the coveted championship trophy in a heart-stopping 73-70 victory. The electrifying final match took place at Govt College University Lahore on Friday, captivating spectators with its display of exceptional skills and unwavering determination.

Wapda's heroic performance secures victory

The match showcased a fierce battle between two evenly matched teams, with both sides showcasing remarkable athleticism and tactical prowess. However, Wapda managed to gain control in the crucial fourth quarter, securing a narrow but decisive victory. Zainul Hassan of Wapda emerged as the hero of the day, contributing a stellar 28 points to lead his team to victory. M Usman and M Zahid Arif further bolstered Wapda's dominance with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Army's valiant effort falls short

Despite a valiant effort from Pakistan Army, Wapda's dominance in the closing stages proved to be the deciding factor. Tughlab Ammar led the scoring for Army with an impressive 24 points, while Shoaib Aslam and Sheraz Aslam contributed 19 and 12 points, respectively. The officiating team of Umer Mehmood, Syed Adnan Ali, and Saadat Jehangir ensured a fair and competitive match throughout.

Award ceremony recognizes top performers

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 Muhammad Salahuddin and GCU Lahore Vice Chancellor Dr. Ahmed Adnan served as the guests of honor, awarding the runner-up and third-position trophies to Pakistan Army and PAF, respectively.

The event was graced by the presence of notable figures from the sports community, including PBBF President Brig Muhammad Iftikhar Mansoor (R), Senior Vice President Imtiaz Rafi Butt, Secretary Khalid Bashir, National Coach Malik Muhammad Riaz, Prof Sirag ul Haq Qureshi, Din Muhammad, Waseem Akhtar, Director Media Muhammad Azam Dar, Shahid Mirza, Tajamal Riaz, and players and students of the university.

PAF claims third position with convincing victory

In the third/fourth position match, Pakistan Air Force secured a convincing 90-61 victory against Lahore, claiming the third position. The closely contested match saw PAF establish a slight 38-37 lead at halftime. M 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 Muhammad Memon officiated the match.