Published: February 16, 2026 at 8:46 pm
In a battle of playgrounds, Sanathnagar Playground scored a comfortable 96-63 win over Victory Playground in the semifinal league of the 6th Samuel Vasanth Kumar Memorial Basketball Tournament at the YMCA Secunderabad on Monday evening.
The Telangana weatherman had predicted unseasonal rains in the state between February 25 and 28 but on Monday it was a rainfall of a different kind on the YMCA basketball court. It rained 3-pointers with both the teams accounting for a whopping 25 3-pointers. Sanathnagar Playground accounted for 17 of those, while Victory Playground had eight three-pointers to their credit.
Victory Playground’s Vamshi and Balu scored quick baskets aided with two 3-pointers to take an early 12-2 lead. However, Sanathnagar Playground’s experienced Nikhil (3) and Sudershan (2) scored five 3-pointers between them to help their side steal the honours in the first quarter. They had a narrow three-point lead 28-25 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Sanathnagar Playground tightened the noose around Victory Playground by restricting them to just 11 points. In turn, the winners scored 25 points through Tejendra, Jasim and Nikhil. Sanathnagar Playground went into the half-time with a healthy 53-36 lead.
Tejendra of Sanathnagar Playground attempts a shot as Vamshi of Victory Playground tries to block. Pic: Mohd Hadi
After change of ends, Victory Playground’s Shlok scored 8 of the 10 points, but Sanathnagar Playground’s Sudershan scored five consecutive 3-points to extend the lead to 80-46 by the end of the third quarter.
In the last quarter, Victory Playground’s 3-point shooting clicked as they scored five 3-pointers, but Sudershan continued his 3-pointer spree to close the match 96-63 in favour of Sanathnagar Playground. Sudershan totaled a whopping 33 points all of which were 3-pointers.
The tournament conducted is being conducted by Sports Writers Association of Telangana (SWAT) under the aegis of The Hyderabad District Basketball Association at YMCA Secunderabad.
Result: Sanathnagar Playground 96 (Sudershan 33, Tejendra 28, Nikhil 19, Jasim 12) beat Victory Playground 63 (Srikanth 17, Shlok 14, Balu 12, Vamshi 12) HT: 53-36.
Follow scores and results of all games here:
https://whatsscore.com/tournament-group/413138/tournaments/413141/view
