In the rematch of the 2016 Tema Basketball League Finals, Nungua Coldstore clinched a 44-36 win over Ashaiman Lions to lift the Battle Grounds Tournament.
The preseason competition is the second of its kind; Lions won the Campaign Tournament in December last year but missed out on a second trophy.
Lions dug itself into a deep hole committing several turnovers that made it difficult to crawl out despite a much improved second half performance.
Coldstore took a 6-0 lead before Lions Bashiru got on the board. With 6:40 minutes played, Coldstore’s 12-2 lead expanded following Emmanuel Wolff’s back to back three point shots.
Lions versatile Forward Dennis Dugbennu completed a three point play to end the first quarter with his side trailing 6-18 after the first quarter.
Coughing up possession on several plays gifted Coldstore chances which the duly exploited to take a 34-10 first half lead. The 24 point lead proved to be the deciding factor despite Lions best efforts.
Ernest Otu Laryea drained two three point shots to get side back in the game with Lions trailing by 15 points (23-38).
Teams traded three pointers with Carl Kuzagbe and Otu Laryea scoring for Lions and Edwin Appiah and Emmanuel Appiah scoring for Nungua in the fourth quarter.
However, Ashaiman’s chances of clinching a win were further reduced after Dugbennu fouled out of the game with four minutes remaining.
Dugbennu was named Most Valuable Player of the competition while Coldstore’s Kwame Boamah Djan added another Defensive Player Award to his collection.
Tema Community 4 placed third with a 32-31 win over Teshie Rangers.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
