Taiwan A picked up a win, but Taiwan B lost, while Philippines-Mighty Sports consolidated their top-of-the-table position after dynamic duo of Dewarick Spencer and Al Thornton led the way to their fifth win, beating India 101-81 at the 38th William Jones Cup yesterday at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
Japan improved to 3-2 and moved into third after defeating Taiwan B 72-68.
Spencer and Thorton, among the seven imports brought in by Mighty Sport for the tournament, lit up the court in a hard-fought contest, with the sides level at 48-48 at halftime.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
However, the Philippine-based team exploded for 31 points against India’s 11 in the third quarter before each side added 21 in the final quarter for Mighty Sports to become the first team to score more than 100 points at this year’s tournament.
Former NBA starter with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors, Thornton made 11-of-14 field goals and two-of-three triple attempts on the way to a team-high 30 points with seven rebounds and three assists.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Spencer also ran amok among India’s defense, especially in the second half, to deliver the first triple-double at William Jones competitions in five years.
The point guard sank 21 points, made 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
It was the first triple-double since Jordan point guard Sam Daghles achieved the feat with 21 points and 10 each in rebounding and assists in a 85-77 win over South Korea in 2011.
India’s twin towers of Amjyot Singh and Amritpal Singh kept the game close with stellar performances. Amjyot had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Amritpal had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Egypt overtook US-Sacramento State in the standings after they downed the collegiate squad 70-63 in the other afternoon contest.
Big center Haytham Khalifa and forward Ahmed Mohamed came off the bench to post 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 points, six rebounds respectively for the winners.
Taiwanese teenager Jeff Wu, who is attending California State University, Sacramento, had 14 points, a career high at an international competition.
TAIWAN B, JAPAN
In the early-evening encounter, Japan turned on the afterburners to score 25 in the final quarter, prevailing on 72-68 over Taiwan B. The hosts led 53-47 over the visitors heading into the late stretch, but they could not muster their offense over the closing minutes.
Team B had a chance to win in the final 20 seconds, but missed on two three-point attempts as the Japan defense held on for the narrow victory.
Japan had four player in double digits, led by point guard Fujii Yuma with 12 points.
For Taiwan, starting guard Lee Kai-yan contributed 10 points, while US import John Florveus chipped in with a double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 20 rebounds.
In the late game last night, Iran were handed their second loss as Taiwan A surprised them with a 66-63 win.
GAMES TODAY
In today’s games, all eyes will be on the 3pm clash between Iran and the Philippines, who have battled for Asian supremacy over the past decade.
This game could decide who goes home with the title.
The Philippines will look to avenge their 74-65 loss to Iran at last year’s competition, when star center and former NBA player Hamed Haddadi overpowered the opposition with 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Iran were crowned champions last year, establishing a “Persian Dynasty,” with five titles in the past seven years.
However, Haddadi was left out of this year’s FIBA Asia Challenge tournament in Tehran in September by Iran’s German head coach Dick Bauermann.
Mighty Sports will fancy their chance to knock off Iran in Taiwan with no Haddadi, who has been rated the “Best Center in Asia” in the past decade, leading Iran to three FIBA Asian Championships in 2007, 2009, and 2013 and collecting the tournament MVP award each time.
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