Nagaland’s basketball community is celebrating a historic milestone as the men’s basketball team has qualified for the pre-quarterfinals (Round of 16) for the first time in any national basketball tournament. This remarkable achievement came after an impressive 65-47 victory over Arunachal Pradesh in the league stage of the 1st U-23 National Basketball Championship, currently taking place in Guwahati, Assam.
The standout performer of the match was team captain Neisezo, who led from the front with 17 points. He was ably supported by vice-captain Benhilo Lorin, who contributed 11 points to secure the team’s place in the next round. This achievement marks a new era for basketball in Nagaland and reflects the team’s hard work, determination, and growing strength in the sport. The team is being managed by Coach Chumben Humtsoe, Assistant Coach Relise Thonger and Manager Temsu Longkumer.
Earlier, Nagaland lost to Karnataka 39-102 but made a strong comeback with an emphatic 88-60 victory over a higher-ranked Chhattisgarh side.
In the women’s category, Nagaland also showcased an impressive performance by defeating Tripura 40-12 in a dominant display. Barbara emerged as the top scorer with 16 points, followed closely by team captain Janice, who added 12 points to the tally. Despite this commanding victory, the women’s team narrowly missed out on qualification for the pre-quarterfinals. Nagaland lost their previous matches against Maharashtra 12-65 and Meghalaya 14-53.
“The success of both teams has brought immense pride to Nagaland and inspired a new generation of basketball players. As the men’s team advances to the pre-quarterfinals, hopes are high for continued success as they take on stronger opponents in the upcoming rounds,” the NBA said in a statement.
The Nagaland Basketball Association expressed their appreciation to the players, coaches, and supporters for their dedication and commitment.
