Nepal Basketball League: Royal beat South Siders

Royal Basketball Club defeated South Siders Basketball Club 85-74 in the ongoing Nepal Basketball League here at Kathmandu, Nepal.

Royal Basketball Club took the first quarter 28-20 and went on to take the second quarter 17 -14. After the halftime break, South Siders Basketball Club took the third quarter 21-19 but were unable to overcome their deficit as Royal took the last quarter 21-19 to win the match by 11 points.

Nikesh Magar of Royal Basketball Club was declared man of the match. He posted 23 points and had 9 steals to secure the win for his team.

Royal Basketball Club has played 12 matches (won 3 and lost 9, with 2 matches left to play) while South Siders Basketball Club has played all 14 matches (won 1 and lost 13). Both teams are out of contention from the playoff spot of the league.

Times International Club and Nepal Army Club have already secured their place in the playoff. Three teams; Golden Gate International Club, Nepal Police Club, and Budhanilkantha Municipality Basketball Club are on contention for the remaining two spots for the playoffs. All three teams are level on 20 points with each having one match left to play.

A total of eight teams are participating in the 2nd edition of Nepal Basketball League. The league is played in a home and away round robin format. Each team plays each other twice.

The top four teams after the round robin league will enter the playoffs. First and second placed teams will play each other three times and the winner will advance to the final.

The losing team will play the winner of the second qualifier between the third and fourth-placed team of the league for the place in the final.

Play for Deprived Children Nepal (PDCN) is the organizer of the Nepal Basketball League with technical help from Nepal Basketball Association.