JAIPUR, MARCH 19: A well-knit Maharashtra team outplayed a depleted Punjab by a comfortable 68-46 points in the first quarter-final match in the women's section of the 59th Senior National Basketball Championship at the Swai Man Singh Stadium here tonight. Kerala also moved into the semi-final after overcoming a fighting Andhra Pradesh by 53-48 margin. The winners were leading by 32-26 points in the first-half. The plucky Andhra Pradesh, with Yamuna K Philip waging a lion-hearted battle, were trailing by just five points (49-44) in the closing stages of the game. However, Kerala were a better team and they deserved victory. In the pre-quarter-final men's encounter, Maharashtra defeated Madhya Pradesh by 72-64 and qualified to meet pool a leaders in Super League Tamil Nadu in the quarter-final.Scores
Men (PQF): Maharashtra 72(Mahesh Nadu 23, Shibu George 15, Pankaj Deshmukh 7, Vijay 6) bt Madhya Pradesh 64(Saju Balan 24, Saji T Thomas 18, Varinder Joshi 14). Placing for pre-quarterfinals: UttarPradesh 72(Rajinder Singh 27, R Suresh Kumar 10, Amit Singh 14) bt Madhya Pradesh 42(Varinder Joshi 16).
Women (QF): Kerala 53 (Sini Thaliath 15, Sheeja Mathew 9, Binu Cherian 15) bt Andhra Pradesh 48 (Yamuna K Philip 22, MA Sisely 7); Maharashtra 68(Pradnya Mane 28, Arnika Gujar 10, Lincy Joseph 16, Manisha Khaprekar 6, Sandhya 6) bt Punjab 46(Reena 19, Kiran 12, Anupreet 7).
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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