READING Rockets Under 18s suffered a disappointing 86-39 defeat in their National Premier final against Peckham Pride at the National Performance Centre in Manchester on Sunday.

Pride began with an audacious alley-oop effort to start the scoring but settled for the first of their 13 trebles of the game with Pride’s magnificent successful shooting percentage of 45%.

Rockets star Jay Carter got their part of the scoreboard going with Ali Sbai quickly adding to the total.

In the opening exchanges Carter scored again with a fade away, the diminutive 5ft 7in Ganesh Bikram Rana scored with a pull-up jump shot and Sbai spun inside to score and keep Rockets ahead 10-9.

With a deep bench, Pride swapped players with regularity, but Rana stroked a treble moments before the key defensive player Fidel Gomez (pictured) was called for his second foul and rested.

Peckham capitalised with a treble and imposed themselves increasingly on the game as they took the first period 25-17 with a buzzer-beating three-point play. Seven of their players scored in the period.

Pride’s team play was exceptional and their pressure took its toll as Rockets turned the ball over, missed shots and their opponents finished clinically.

Peckham’s defence helped them take the second quarter 18-4 to have a comfortable interval lead of 43-18. Absolutely nothing was going Rockets' way as the ball rimmed out repeatedly and even when the ball came off a Rockets foot, it fell to Pride who hit another treble.

Rana tried his utmost to lead his team and keep Rockets in contention as Carter rose to the occasion, but with Gomez now on four fouls within 30 seconds of the re-start, the situation was only going to get tougher.

Pride capitalised with their first possession as they stroked another treble, and although Carter rose high to make a block, the speed and agility of their opponents coupled to outstanding ability and talent saw Rockets lose the third quarter 24-11 as they looked to the final stanza despite Alex Drincic hitting a wide jump shot and Josh Stepney scoring from the free throw line.

Rockets were now playing for their own pride as they found themselves 62-37 adrift at the start of the final period.

They never gave up, but Pride – capitalising to the extent of scoring 30 points from turnovers and 39 points in trebles – were the superior side.

Rockets had previously reached the final by securing a superb 70-49 victory against Manchester Magic on Saturday night.

Reading started superbly and Sbai put them 6-0 up before their opponents got on the scoreboard.

Rockets led 19-17 after the first quarter and extended their advantage with a brilliant second period, going into half time 40-27 in front.

The third-quarter spoils were shared as the sides entered the final stanza with Rockets 56-43 in front, and they held their nerve to secure a famous victory against the English basketball powerhouse.

Top scorers for Rockets were Sbai with 21 points and nine rebounds; Carter with 20 points and four rebounds; Bikram Rana with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Gomez scored eight points, took down 11 rebounds and made four steals.