Defending champions Golden Gate International Club bounced back from their opening day defeat at the hands of Tribhuvan Army Club to open their account in the Nepal Basketball League on Tuesday.

Playing away to Budhanilkantha Municipality Basketball Club, a solid offensive game in the last four minutes of the third quarter lifted Golden Gate to an 85-70 victory. Golden Gate are almost unchanged this season with a strong squad including former and current national players but were shocked in their title defence losing 104-69 to the last year’s runners-up on Saturday.

At one stage in their second match in Golfutaar, Golden Gate looked like heading toward another upset, this time even bigger, but they converted almost all their shots in the last four minutes in the third quarter to gain an upper hand in the game. Golden Gate with a 24-17 lead in the first quarter and built an eight-point lead with 18-17 cushion in the second period.

Budhanilkantha continued to impress at their home court and reduced the deficit to six points giving themselves a chance at 57-43 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. National team member Rajiv Shrestha and former Nepal international Karma Gurung sunk a three each with Binod Shrestha converting two twos handing Golden Gate a 67-51 lead with 28 seconds left.

Sugat Deep Singh’s two-pointer made 67-53 at the end of the third quarter but Budhanilkantha hardly managed to fight their way back into the game. Budhanilkantha led the final quarter 19-18. Gurung scored 20 points, had eight rebounds and made four assists to walk away with the most valuable player award. Shrestha also contributed 15 points and took nine rebounds.  

Earlier in the morning match, Royal Basketball Club registered their second consecutive victory defeating Kirtipur Basketball Team 72-61 in their away game. On their way to winning second away game in a row, Kunkhen Jit Theeng scored 13 for Royal to remain the third unbeaten team in the league after leaders Times International Club and Tribhuvan Army Club.

A strong performance in the first two quarters laid the victory foundation for Royal who began with 20-15 lead. The lead stretched to 13 points after Royal added another 18 in the second quarter with Kirtipur managing just 10. The hosts managed to reduced the deficit to eight points taking the third quarter 20-15 but Royal sealed the victory leading the final 10 minutes 19-16. Theeng was adjudged the most valuable player.

On Wednesday Army will host Kirtipur in Bhadrakali and another title contenders Times will be up against Golden Gate for an away game in Battisputali.