MAY 30: Bombay Engineering Group (BEG), Kirkee, held their nerve in a tense extra-period to prevail over Shivaji Nagar Gymkhana (SNG), Nagpur, in the final of the Pepsi and Killer Jeans-sponsored fifth Savio Cup Invitation basketball tournament for men at the Don Bosco High School court, Matunga tonight.

BEG won 81-73 after a 68-68 scoreline at full-time. The winners trailed 34-36 at half-time.

BEG's Prolific scorer Gurmeet Singh was adjudged Best Player of the Final and his reward was the Pepsi Trophy while Pankaj Deshmukh of Shivaji Nagar Gymkhana (Nagpur) was voted the Best Player of the Tournament. Income-Tax's Mahesh Naidu was adjuded the Most Valuable Player.

SNG, the defending champions, had beaten BEG twice earlier in the season started in whirlwind fashion with Deshmukh displaying fine control to harass the BEG defence.

He dumbfounded his opponents and often set up Srihari George for lay-ups. Deshmukh himself found the hoop with a couple of three-pointers to give his side a substantial lead.

SNG's defence gave BEG little leeway in the opening phase of the match and BEG marksmen Om Prakash, Atmaram Jat and Sanjay Sawant were harried into failed attempts.

Shivaji Nagar, however, lost their grip when they rested Pankaj and Shashwant Gokhale and BEG were able to gain some breathing space.

Before long the Kirkee side gained in confidence and their shooters found the basket with encouraging regularity. They nibbled away the lead to trail by a mere two points at the interval.

SNG began to tire in the second half and Deshmukh's substitution took the edge from their game. Playmaker Suhas Gainkar strived to get BEG's game together but mounting fouls and a flagging defence undermined their challenge.

Om Prakash in tandem with the veteran Vasudev Thitte pieced together some dangerous -- and fruitful -- raids. It went neck-and-neck right until the final whistle and prolonged the duel into the extra period.

With just a minute left Gurmeet sank a basket. Then Sharad Nagane increased BEG's lead but in a dramatic end to full time Desmukh brilliantly converted a rebound to level at 68-68 after setting Gainkar for a three-pointer.

BEG's superior fitness told in extra-time. They forged into the lead and stayed ahead despite SNG's efforts to come back.

Scores: BEG 81 (Gurmeet Singh 25, Atmaram Jat 15, Om Prakash 16) bt SNG 73 (P Deshmukh 16, Hemant Waghade 16, Srihari Garge 15, Satish Warrier 10).

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.