Auto Jaya roar past De'Lightz

AUTO JAYA notched their first win of the 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup last night but they shifted gears too late in the competition.

Improving as the tournament progressed, the team beat De'Lightz Coffee Shop 69-59 in their third game at the Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) court in Batu Bersurat, but failed to progress to the quarter-finals after defeats in their previous two matches meant they were now knocked out.

After a 91-41 defeat to Babes Boutique last Tuesday, Auto Jaya played better in their 69-57 loss to White Heaven two days later even enjoying a nine-point lead at the half-time break.

Though they were unable to hold on to their advantage and secure the win, last night's result proved to the team's captain that the side were improving albeit a little too late.

"We had several national team players in our side and they haven't played in a while, so it took a couple of games for the whole team to gel," said Kenny Lim Han Chuan.

"The team have been slowly getting better and our experience won us the game tonight (Monday night), though it was only in the fourth quarter that we broke when our opponents got tired.

"Our aim was always to reach the quarter-finals and though we did not manage that, we will carry on practising and we hope to join more tournaments in the future," he added.

A 5-0 run by De'Lightz in the last minute of the first quarter opened up a 21-16 lead for them heading into the second period.

Both teams played a similar game, preferring to drive to the basket than shoot though Auto Jaya looked the better team off the ball and were able to create more space.

Jian Ting made one of his two free-throws late in the second half to hand De'Lightz a slim 28-27 advantage going into the break, but a 6-0 run in the opening minutes of the third quarter saw De'Lightz surrender their lead.

They would not get the chance to savour it again.

Resorting to fast-break points, Auto Jaya did well to build on the lead they opened in the third quarter and ended the stanza up 47-39.

The coffeemakers had run out of steam by this point, and though the two sides traded baskets in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, there was nothing De'Lightz could do when their opponents found their second wind opening up a 10-point lead mid-way through the period and holding on to it for the victory.

Last night's second game was a 73-64 win for Team Wayne 'B' against Bukit Ladang, the result ensuring the former's berth in the quarter-finals.

Kitchen of Jasmine face a make-or-break match against Afima Express in today's action at 8.30pm, in which a win will see them advance to the last eight but a loss end their campaign.

The first game of the night will pit YTE against Chua Auto Mobile.The Brunei Times