Can 88 Trading Co dim Summerstars in final?

IT WAS an awesome night for 88 Trading Company, who outplayed Awesome 76-71 in the semi-finals of the Youth Basketball Championship (BYBC) Under-18 tournament to book themselves a final date with Summerstars.

Wong Ha Shiong led 88 Trading Co with 25 points while Hung Jiunn Nan, Wong's Maktab Duli teammate, top scored for Awesome with 24 points in the first semi-final at the Kg Baru basketball court in Seria yesterday.

Awesome started off sluggishly while 88 Trading Co came out brightly firing off all cylinders. Awesome were making too many turnovers and their poor defence led to 88 Trading Co opening a 28-12 lead going into the second period. 88 Trading Co were relying on their fastbreak points and good perimeter shooting to extend their lead.

Awesome were also not helped by poor teamwork as they played one-man penetrating basketball each time they touched the ball. 88 Trading Co held on to a comfortable 42-25 cushion at halftime.

But Awesome weren't going down without a fight and they picked up the pace in the final period. They had a 6-0 run midway of the quarter to cut the deficit to single digit.

But 88 Trading Co calmed their nerves to hold on to victory despite being outscored 30-17 in the period.

In the second semi-final, Summerstars came up on top beating Aii Sdn Bhd 75-66.

Kho Zhe Hou poured in 25 points and Yeo Chun Kiat had 19 points for Summerstars. On the other hand, Choo Yung Kang contributed a game high 28 points to a losing cause.

The match was closely contested in the opening period with Aii taking a 16-10 lead into the second period.

However, the tides turned in the second quarter as Summerstars grabbed the lead behind the red-hot shooting of Kho from beyond the arc.

Summerstars went into half time leading 29-28.

They maintained the momentum in the third period grabbing the offensive rebounds through Yeo and national cager, Soon Kian Leong, to extend their lead into double digits at 57-46 going into the final period. Liew Ming Yang was brilliant at the defensive end as he controlled his team to set the tempo.

It was equal for both teams in the final period but Summerstars held on for the victory.

The final will be held at 8.15pm today.

Meanwhile, Chung Hwa A opened their campaign with a 66-55 victory over Baiduri Bank in Group A of the Goh Hock Kee Men's Trophy (6+6) basketball tournament at the Chung Hwa Middle School basketball court in Tutong.

In the second game, KOF notched up their second straight victory when they edged past Team Wayne 80-74 in Group B.

Tonight's matches will see Charity A take on Charity C in Group A at 6.45pm followed by Chung Hwa B against KMH in Group B at 8pm.

The Brunei Times