Maldives' U18 National Basketball team has defeated Bangladesh at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, SABA Qualifier with a score of 66-55, achieving an unpreceded and historical feat.
Maldives' U18 National Basketball team has defeated Bangladesh at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, SABA Qualifier with a score of 66-55, achieving an unpreceded and historical feat.
This success triumphed during the country's first match at the qualifiers is the first win secured by the youth team at an international scale.
Although Maldives was falling behind until the third quarter of the match, the youth team had amassed 11 point with a last-minute resolve, widening the score margin.
The best performance was demonstrated by Aik Ahmed Mauroof who had scored 18 points, given 5 assists and recalled 15 rebounds during the match.
Maldives had begun the Qualifiers held in Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka with Aik Ahmed Mauroof, Naaf Irusham, Aldhan Aik Rameez, Kyle Abdulla Nasheed and the captain, Mohamed Aik Wajeeh.
Performing under the guidance and instructions of Coach Mohamed Zilaal (Zila), the youth team also consists of Mohamed Aidhin Ahmed, Ahmed Leem Hussain Shifau, Ismail Zuiz Mohamed, Layan Ahmed Shameel, Mohamed Kaif Shahran, Abdulla Alaan Irufaan and Ibrahim Nauhaan Naaiz.
The countries competing in the Qualifiers other than Maldives and Bangladesh are India and Sri Lanka. India had triumphed the match played with Sri Lanka yesterday with a score of 88-44.
While Maldives is scheduled to face off against India in its second match of the Qualifiers this evening at 1600 hrs, they are set to compete with Sri Lanka on Friday for the final match.