DIMAPUR, JANUARY 30 (MExN): Nagaland created history at the 5th 3x3 National Basketball Championship for Men and Women, held in Delhi, by topping their group and qualifying for the pre-quarterfinals, marking an unprecedented achievement in the state’s basketball history.
Placed in Group E alongside Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Assam, the Nagaland team delivered consistent performances to finish at the top of the group and advance to the knockout stage for the first time.
Nagaland opened their campaign with a 21–11 win over Chhattisgarh, with Atseizo scoring 10 points, supported by Cuwe with six points and Sede with five. In their second match, Nagaland again won 21–11 against Himachal Pradesh, as Cuwe scored seven points, Sede added eight, Atseizo contributed four and Yeye chipped in with two.
In their third group match, Nagaland defeated Jharkhand 21–4. Cuwe led the scoring with eight points, while Atseizo scored six, Sede four and Yeye three, sealing qualification for the pre-quarterfinals.
In their final group match against Assam, Nagaland registered another 21–11 victory, with Atseizo scoring 10 points and Sede adding six, to finish as Group E toppers. In the pre-quarterfinals, Nagaland faced Karnataka and were eliminated after a closely contested match, losing 11–17. Atseizo and Cuwe scored five points each in the knockout fixture.
The team’s qualification for the pre-quarterfinals and topping of their group marked the first such achievement for Nagaland in a national basketball championship.
The Secretary of the Nagaland Basketball Association stated, “This historic achievement is more than just a sporting milestone—it is a dream realized for Nagaland basketball. Our young players have shown courage, discipline, and heart, proving that Nagaland can stand tall on the national stage. But their journey cannot end here. To truly build on this success, we need the unwavering support of our government, administrators, institutions, and private companies”.
