12 teams in fray, Punjab to make debut

Chennai, Aug 4 (UNI) Punjab will be making its debut alongside 11 other teams in the Rs 57,000 prize money, 28th Ace Basketball Club (ACB)-L&T All India basketball tournament for Magnolia trophy to be played here from August 7 to 13.

ACB President M S Venkatraman told newsmen here that the other teams in fray in the league-cum-knock-out tournament this year, include defending champions BSNL Chennai Telephones, Central Excise-Kochi, South Central Railway(Grp A), five times champions Indian Overseas Bank, Western Railway, Kerala Electricity Board (KSEB) (Grp B), ONGC-Dehra Dun, Karnataka state team, ICF (Grp C), Indian Bank and Southern Railway (Grp D).

The competition would be stiff this year with five times champion Indian Bank in the gray alonghwith ICF and Southern Railway.

The winning team would be richer by of Rs 30,000 and the runner up Rs 15,000.

The Most Valuable Player in the tournament would be decided in terms of individual points scored, fouls committed and overall contribution to the team. He will be presented a Gold medal valued at about Rs 9000.

Mr Venkatraman said instead of the conventional teak wood or acrylic boards, Fibre glass boards-FRP boards impregnated with UV resistant pigmets, as per the specifictions of International Baskebtall Federation (FIBA) would be used for the tournament this year.

UNI VV ROY PM VV1504