Basketball: Jachungs comfortably defeated Jaguars 87-71 in the third and deciding game of the finals of the Pepsi “A” league basketball Championship at the Swimming Pool complex yesterday.

Overcoming a 0-1 deficit in the best of three series, the number four seed in the tournament overwhelmed the sixth seeded Jaguars with strong defense, and won two games in a row.

The Jachungs dominated the game from the start ending the first quarter with a 14 point lead. They maintained this lead for the rest of the game.

The Jaguars, who upset the number one and third seeded teams of the tournament, rallied and got the closest in the third quarter. They closed the gap to 10 points in the third with Gyamtsho Tshering scoring three straight baskets, followed by a three by Sonam Tshering.

But they could not break down the Jachung’s defense and lost the match eight baskets behind.

The Jaguars also could not find an answer for the Jachung’s top scorer, Rinzi Wangchuk, who scored a total of 22 points in yesterday’s match.

Rinzi Wangchuk, with an average of 22 points per game, was awarded the Most Valuable Player trophy of the tournament. He also had 15 assists, 18 defensive rebounds and 66 points to his name for the best of three finals series of the tournament.

Rinzi Wangchuk said that that they took the game very seriously from the beginning. “Our hard work and practice paid off finally,” he said. “Jaguars were equally good today but I guess our experience gave us the victory.”

Gyamtsho Tshering of Jaguars said that they were expecting a tough fight from the Jachungs. “We played our best today. But they played better,” he said. “They deserved the win and we have no excuse for our loss.”

Team Jachung bagged the league’s rolling trophy and a cash prize of Nu 50,000. Jaguars received a cash prize of Nu 40,000.

By Younten Tshedup