PSB's Jong breaks Stingers' hearts again

LIGHTNING does strike twice. Plaza Sutera Biru proved just that last night.

Jong Guo Zhang was once again the hero when he nailed the game-winning layup with three seconds left to lift Plaza Sutera Biru (PSB) to a 61-60 comeback victory over the Ilonggo Stingers in the final to emerge champions of the 2010 Yong Sok Cup last night.

The victory at the Kampung Baru basketball court in Seria gave PSB a 'double'.

Jong also hit the game winning three-point shot when he was playing for Hyundai Setia Motors to beat the Stingers 79-78 in the final of the same tournament last year.

PSB had the last possession last night and the Stingers knew the ball would land in Esmond Tan's hands leading to a triple team with 11 seconds left.

However, Tan would pass the ball to Fong Yeh Leong who drove to the rim just to kick out to an open Jong right under the basket for the winning shot.

"I will have to give credit to Fong for making a good pass to me. If not, I would have never been given a chance at a shot. I was left open since all eyes were on the guy with the ball," said Jong, a guard of PSB, in an interview with The Brunei Times, after the triumph.

"I didn't know if I was going to make it. My mind was blank but I just knew I had to make it. There was probably some luck involved and the supporters really gave us a good backing," added Jong, who would finish with eight points.

The game was a similar affair to their previous meeting in the final of the BBA Open Challenge Trophy last month when the Stingers squandered a 25-point advantage for PSB to win 83-77

The Stingers once again got off hot shooting the ball well last night while PSB were throwing up bricks. It looked like it was headed into a one-sided affair with the Stingers taking a 16-2 lead into the second period.

However, the BBA Open Challenge Trophy champions picked up the slack to outscore their opponents 20-12 to reduce the deficit to 28-22 at halftime.

Presley Ho was doing a good job on defence, finishing with eight blocks, to deny the Stingers. Both teams exchanged baskets to set up the nail biting finish.

In the third place playoff, LVS Unikorn edged Team Wayne 64-61 to take the bronze.

The Brunei Times