By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal’s journey in the Five Nations Cup Basketball Championship got off to a disappointing start as they were defeated by Bhutan in their opening match held in Maldives on Wednesday.

Nepal fell short against Bhutan with a final score of 61-55. Despite their efforts to stage a comeback, Nepal was unable to overturn the deficit they faced in the first quarter.
Bhutan started the game strongly and finished the first quarter with a commanding 21-13 lead. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, ending it with a score of 36-29 in their favor.
Maintaining their lead, Bhutan entered the final quarter with a score of 48-42, ultimately securing their victory over Nepal with a final score of 61-55.
The tournament, scheduled from June 14 to June 22, includes host nation Maldives, along with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Pakistan, competing in a round-robin league format. The top two teams from the league will advance to the finale.