LAHORE: Pakistan Army will defend their title in the National Basketball Championship which is commencing at the Sports Board Punjab Basketball Courts here from Thursday (today). Eight top teams have confirmed their participation in the five-day championship. All the matches will be played under floodlights. Pakistan Railways and Lahore Division will play the inaugural match of the championship which will start at 5:00 pm. A spokesman for the Pakistan Basketball Federation said Wednesday that a meeting of the officials of the participating teams was held at the national federation’s office and finalised draws of the championship. Participating teams have been placed in two groups. Four matches will be played on the opening day and the final will be played on January 15. Punjab Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs Jahangir Khanzada will grace the occasion as chief guest at the concluding ceremony. Army, Railways, Lahore and Faisalabad are placed in Group-A while WAPDA, Navy, POF and Peshawar Division are in Group-B. Today’s matches: Railways vs Lahore WAPDA vs Peshawar Navy vs Pakistan Ordnance Factory Army vs Faisalabad. Published in Daily Times, January 11th 2018.