Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The State Junior Basketball Championships 2025, currently underway at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium in Navelim, have reached an exciting finale stage. Organized by Panjim Basketeers Club under the aegis of the Goa Basketball Association and the Sports Authority of Goa, the tournament serves as a selection platform for the upcoming Junior Nationals in Ludhiana.
In the Junior Boys category, DBO Panjim and DBO Fatorda have emerged as the two finalists. DBO Fatorda staged a remarkable comeback in the first semifinal, rallying from an early 6-15 deficit to defeat Sonics in a thrilling 49-42 encounter. Aaron Ponraj and Jude Fernandes were instrumental in the turnaround, scoring 13 points each, while Kayden D’Silva added 9 points. Jude Fernandes was declared the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his clutch performance. Despite the loss, Sonics’ Daniel Rodrigues (13 points) and Daniel Saji (12 points) delivered strong individual efforts.
The second semifinal witnessed DBO Panjim clinching a narrow 32-29 win over a gritty Navy Children’s School (NCS) Vasco side. Kevin De Souza, who contributed 11 points, earned MVP honors for DBO Panjim. Abhinav Singh, with 12 points, led the charge for NCS Vasco in a closely-contested game.
In the Junior Girls division, DBO Fatorda put on a dominant display, overpowering Sharada Mandir with a comprehensive 33-13 victory to set up a finals clash with Sonics. Natalie Fernandes led the scoring for DBO with 9 points and was named MVP, while Sarah Albuquerque chipped in with 7 points. Urvi Shirodkar scored 5 points for Sharada Mandir in a spirited performance despite the team’s defeat.
With the finals set, fans can look forward to two high-stakes matches as Goa’s best junior basketball talent battles it out for state glory and a place in the national spotlight.
