Vinay Kaushik is UBA Pro Most Valuable Player

Delhi Capital’s Vinay Kaushik is excited after being named as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second season of the UBA Pro Basketball League that is heading for a grand finale at the Gachibowli Stadium. The honour was worth it because he averaged a phenomenal 18.7 points per game.

The Haryana lad’s consistently balanced but offensive game-plan helped Delhi Capital to win six out of their seven games that saw it storming into the championship final. For one who missed the first edition, the 24-year-old Kaushik won many hearts with his extraordinary performance against Mumbai Challengers, in which he dominated the fourth quarter while scoring an unbelievable 15 points, including six straight freethrows.

His overall tally was 21 that steered Delhi to a facile 72-61 win. “The award is a huge morale booster. I am happy I justified the confidence that was reposed in my abilities by my coach and the team management. This honour is not only for me but to all my teammates,” says Kaushik.

It has been a good pro debut for one who fancied a cricketing career but, took to basketball after his advisors in Rohtak urged him to take advantage of his towering height. Two weeks into the new-found love saw him respond to his new calling, which effectively translates to basketball being the gainer.

Learning tricks of the trade saw him getting for the Junior Asian basketball championship in 2007-08. Employed with the Income-Tax Department and posted in Gujarat, Kaushik has a credible resume-two senior international championship, two Asia Cup outings and a 3x3 World Games.

He feels that the UBA has helped improve the standards of the game in India.“As the best get picked, the competition in the eight-team extravaganza is high,” he said while lamenting that, “Although, most schools in the country boast of basketball courts, there is a dearth of exposure at the top. In a way, the UBA is rendering yeomen service because it is tapping talent and providing ample coaching.”

“In fact, that is how I honed my skills as I would interact with seniors during the camps,” he reveals.“I did not get many opportunities to speak to former NBA player Joe Courtney but, he gave some tips during practice session that are holding me in good stead,” adds the tall player.Kaushik’s next goal is to put India in an enviable position on world basketball map.