The sides were locked at nil-all following normal time and were still not able to be separated on the scoresheet after extra time.
Penalties were therefore required to determine the winner and national U-23 representative Laisenia Raura made a hero of himself by finding the net with the decisive spot kick.
The success is Ba’s first piece of silverware since the Men in Black lifted the Fiji FACT trophy in 2010 and continues a proud run of Battle of the Giants titles that now stands at 15.
“This is a sweet victory for us and one of the most memorable wins for Ba,” coach Yogendra Dutt said.
“The players played their hearts out to win this match and we are proud to have won this tournament for a record time. We lost to Labasa last year in the Inter District Championship final and this is sweet revenge for us.”
Opposing coach Epeli Levaci rated goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva, a teammate of Raura’s in the Fiji U-23 team, as his side’s best performer on the day and said his attentions have already turned to the next major tournament.
“It’s back to the drawing board for us,” he said. “We will have to review our performance and put up a tougher challenge for the IDC.”
Ba President Rishi Kumar was delighted to see the Men in Black earn their fifteenth Battle of the Giants title but had plenty of praise for the losing team.
“I’m really happy with the performance of our side and would like to thank the players and their families for the support,” he said.
“Both sides played a constructive game and that is what football is all about. Hats off to Labasa because they played a brilliant match.”
Ba also had something to celebrate in the individual stakes as defender Remueru Tekiata, another member of the national U-23 squad, was named player of the tournament.
Earlier in the day, an Isikeli Jeke Keli goal was enough for Lautoka to edge past Nadi 1-0 and secure third place while Nasinu won the premier division after beating Taveuni 2-1 in the final.
Navinesh Akash and Jone Nareba put Nasinu two up at the break before Melvin Kumar replied for Taveuni early in the second period.

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