by Chen Hui Jing
Pure Youth Construction win five straight games to be crowned the winners of the 2nd Malaysia International Basketball Championship after defeating the Hong Kong China team 98-83.
Tsai Wen-Cheng drained a 3-pointer to open the game and this would be indicative of the good shooting form of the Pure Youth team for the rest of the game. Tso Tsung-Kai hit 4-of-5 from downtown and Pure Youth were 6-of-7 from three-point range in the first quarter. The Taiwanese led by 11 after the first quarter.
Pure Youth started second quarter on an 8-0 run. Hong Kong China were unable to hit a field-goal until the 4:22 mark, when Li Kim Wong finally drained one from beyond the arc. However, the basket seemed to have shrunk for the Hong Kong team, as they shot only 34% from the field. In contrast, the Pure Youth team, though cooling down a bit in the second quarter, were still shooting much better than their opponents and managed to extend their lead to 20 by halftime.
The boys from Hong Kong China seemed to find their shooting touch in the second half and started to hit from the outside. However, the Taiwanese were still shooting well from beyond the arc and the lead remained at 18 at the end of the third quarter. The Hong Kong team regained their shooting form and started to hit their perimeter shots. But the Pure Youth team are not the favourites for nothing, they kept their poise and had an answer for nearly every shot the Hong Kong team made.
The Hong Kong team were unable to draw any closer than 15 points and the Pure Youth team won the game 98-83, clinching the title as well.
Pure Youth had five players scoring in double figures. Chang Yu-Lin made 4-of-6 from three point range for 24 points. Tso Tsung-Kai also contributed 22 points, making 5-of-6 of his three-point attempts. Both Hung Chi-Feng and Tsai Wen-Cheng scored 11 points and Chen Chia-Chieh also had 10 points.
Three Hong Kong China players had double-digit scoring, Li Wah Fung, with 18 points, Lo Yi Ting, with 16 points and Poon Chi Ho with 15 points. |
