Tribhuvan Army Club avenged their last year’s title loss to Golden Gate International Club in style to begin the Nepal Basketball League campaign with a high-flying victory over the defending champions on Friday.

Playing away in the tournament opener, Ram Krishna Ghotane completed a double double as the Armymen, who saw the team’s influential player and national team skipper Sadhish Pradhan leave the club this season, crushed Golden Gate 104-69. Man-of-the-match Ghotane rolled in 17 points and took 10 rebounds for the departmental giants.

Golden Gate had stunned Army 97-96 in a pulsating final of last edition but they were dominated from the outset trailing by 21 points after the first two quarters with the latter leading 26-14 and 26-17 respectively. The game gradually slipped out of Golden Gate’s grasp when Army controlled the third quarter 25-14.

With a 32-point deficit to turn around, Golden Gate were virtually out of the contest and for the first time crossed 20 points scoring 23 in the final quarter. Army scored 27 points in the final quarter.

Pradhan’s departure from Army benefited Times International Club who thumped Nepal Police Club 96-61 with the national team captain alone scoring a whopping 42 points. Pradhan had begun his campaign last year with a triple double and the shooting guard continued to flourish at home court sinking in six three pointers. The man-of-the-match also had three rebounds.

Times began the match with a slim five-point lead (18-13) in the first quarter against the Policemen who included a majority of players who represented Bishal Milan Kendra in the first edition. But Times raced away in the second quarter scoring 26 points to that of 13 from Police for a 19-point cushion going into the second half.

Police attempted to hit back in the third quarter and ended up scoring 20 points but by then Times posted 20 to build a healthy lead that would ultimately be enough for the victory. Times also took the final quarter 22-16.

On Sunday, Budhanilkantha Municipality Basketball Club will host Kirtipur Basketball Team and Royal Basketball Club will play away to South Siders Basketball Club at the St Xavier’s College. The 55-day League is country’s longest and biggest basketball tournament including eight teams.