Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
CONCEPTS/3B3G started off their campaign in the GRÂND Veteran and Women Open Basketball Tournament with a 77-59 victory over LaMee in Group A last night.
Edgar Macarimban produced a game-high of 29 points to pace Concepts/3B3G while Jameel Mabanto added 25 points in the victory.
On the other hand, Ho Bee Bah topscored for LaMee with 23 points to a losing cause.
Edgar Macarimban of Concepts/3B3G goes for a layup against Lamee. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
It was evenly contested in the opening five minutes before Macarimban took over at the BBA court in Batu Bersurat.
Lamee had no answer as he was getting his way inside the paint for 15 first quarter points to put Concepts/3B3G up 24-14 going into the second period.
LaMee picked up at the defensive end to clog the paint to force their opponents to take shots from the outside and eventually grabbed the lead at 33-31 late in the second period.
Concepts/3B3G lost their momentum having started the stanza with their bench and were held to only seven points to trail 35-31 at halftime.
However, they turned it around by setting up a full court pressure defence to go on a 10-0 run before LaMee called a timeout.
They did get a basket out of it but couldn’t stop the bleeding as Concepts/3B3G carried a 53-43 advantage into the final period.
Jameel Mabanto (L) of Concepts/3B3G drives past Koo Yu Chuan of LaMee. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
Ho Bee Bah (L) of LaMee takes a shot against Concepts/3B3G. Picture: Yee Chun Leong
LaMee just didn't have enough in their tanks to cut the deficit and simply ran out of steam allowing Concepts/3B3Gto build up a 20-point lead with under three minutes left enroute to victory.
Jameel, who had 14 points, and Macarimban combined for 22 of the team’s 24 points in the decisive period.
The earlier game saw Little Wonder Enterprise crush TK Tea House Restaurant 95-45 in the same group.
The competition continues today with Mytown Kitchen taking on Indera En Voy Transportation in Group A of the women’s category at 7pm.
The second match pits Digimark against OSP in Group B of the veteran’s category at 8.30pm.
