Basketball: Wizards defeated Drukpas 74-53 in the first playoff game of the ongoing Pepsi A-league at the Swimming Pool Complex in Thimphu on Saturday.
The Wizards topped the table at the end of the league round with 33 points. While the Jachungs also scored 33 points with a record of 15 wins and just three losses, goal difference saw the Wizards grab first place.
The head-to-head record of the two teams stands at one win each.
The Wizards had an easy win over the last team to qualify into the playoffs, Drukpas. Chenda Tobgay of Drukpas scored 20 points, the highest in the game followed by Kunsang Wangchuk of Wizards with 19.
The second game witnessed an equally contested game between last year’s champions, Jachungs and the seventh seed, Jaguars. The seesaw battle went in favour of the defending champions Jachung.
Jachung’s star player, Rinzi Wangchuk scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds for his team in the game. The highest points for the team, however, came from Tashi Tendhar who made 22 points and also pulled down six rebounds.
Pazaps defeated Blue Magic 62-59 in the third game. With 11 rebounds and 22 points, His Royal Highness Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck gave the Pazaps their 13th win in the tournament.
Day one of the playoffs concluded with the debutant team of RBA defeating Phojas 92-82. Team RBA who were promoted to the A-division this year has so far won 13 games from 19 played.
His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck scored 31 points, the highest in the match for team RBA.
Of the ten teams who took part in the Pepsi A-league this year, eight have entered the playoffs.
Team Crossovers and Takins have both been relegated to the B-division.
The playoffs will be a best-of-three format.
With 41 points each in a single game, HRH Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck of Pazaps and Jamyang Namgyal of Wizards are the leading high scorers for this season.
With 17 rebounds in a single game Pazaps’ Galden Chopel is the lead rebounder in the regular season followed by Wizards’ Rinchen Dorji.
Jachung’s Lhendup D Dorjey has made 12 three pointers in a single game followed by HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck with seven.
Younten Tshedup