Two-time P.League+ champions the Taipei Fubon Braves on Saturday crashed out of the East Asia Super League (EASL) Champions Week after a 83-78 loss to Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings in Okinawa, Japan.
The teams finished the first half tied 45-45 at Okinawa Arena, before the Braves collapsed in the third quarter to record only eight points, while the Golden Kings picked up 23, giving the Japanese team a comfortable lead for the rest of the game.
Although the Braves mounted a comeback in the final quarter, with a 25-15 run over the Golden Kings, they still trailed by five points at the final buzzer.
Photo: Wu Meng-ju, Taipei Times
Braves center Chris Johnson led all scorers with 28 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block, while Golden Kings center Jack Cooley led his team with 24 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.
At a post-game news conference, Braves head coach Roger Hsu said he was happy the team did not give up after the third quarter, adding that they showed resilience by rallying in the fourth quarter.
The team, for the most part, played well in their two games in the tournament, only struggling in certain quarters, Hsu said.
“Hopefully we can learn from that experience and correct those mistakes to play better in high inatensity games,” Hsu said.
On Wednesday, the Braves lost 94-69 to South Korea’s Anyang KGC in Utsunomiya, Japan.
Taipei, along with the San Miguel Beermen from the Philippines, were 0-2 in Group A, and did not advance to yesterday’s finals.
Anyang KGC were last night to play the other Korean Basketball League (KBL) team in the tournament, the Seoul SK Knights, for the US$250,000 first prize.
The EASL-owned, Hong Kong-based Bay Area Dragons earlier yesterday beat the Golden Kings 90-70 for the US$50,000 third prize.
The tournament included last year’s champions and runners-up from Japan’s B.League and the KBL, the top two teams in last year’s Philippine Cup, last year’s P.League+ champions and the Dragons.
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