30 September, 2018
The champion Moratuwa Basketball Club. Seated from left Samson de Mel (head coach), Asanka Suwaris, Sanitha de Mel (captain), Gayan Meedeniya, Sameera Fernando (coach). Standing from left: Clifford Shenal, Ashan de Silva, Sudesh Nonis, Shawn Paul, Shiranka Fonseka, Chenud Gaveesha, Diluk Fernando, Sachintha Fernando (manager), Mathew Suren, Sanjana Senarath, U Dissanayake (physio)
Moratuwa Basketball Club won the 50th anniversary Fr Webber Basketball Championship in Batticaloa last Sunday as they beat Air Force 70-41 in the tournament’s final. Air Force went into the tournament as the team that won the National Championship last year.
The Moratuwa basketballers were coached by former Sri Lanka bronze medal winning player Samson de Mel.
Most of their players are products of St. Sebastian’s College including the captain Sanitha de Mel who captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team at the Youth World Cup in 2012.
De Mel was adjudged as the Best Defensive Player while his team-mates Asanka Suwaris and Diluk Fernando won the awards for Best Player and Most Valuable Player in the tournament respectively.