Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TUTONG opened their National Basketball League title defence with an easy 71-39 victory over Belait B last night.
Md Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin topscored for Tutong with 16 points while Khoo Chin Kai added 14.
Onn Jen Hao was the other in double figures with 13 points in the win at the BBA court in Batu Bersurat.
On the other hand, Lai Vuli was the only one in double figure scoring for Belait B with 10 points.
It was one way traffic right from the start with Tutong limiting their opponents to only one basket in the opening period.
All Belait B had to offer was a three-pointer by Lai as Tutong opened up an 18-3 lead going into the second quarter enroute to their opening win.
Meanwhile, it was a much closer affair in the second game as Brunei-Muara A came back from 12 points down at the start of the fourth quarter to edge Belait A 73-71.
Jake Chong produced a game-high of 27 points, which included six treys, to pace Brunei-Muara A while Darren Yap added 21.
Belait A had distributed scoring with the duo of Choo Yung Jian and Ben Sim notching 15 points each.
Christopher Chiew contributed 14 points while Sim Hung Fatt poured in 10 to a losing cause.
The League will resume today with Belait taking on Brunei Muara in the women’s category at 7.15pm.
The second will see Temburong and Brunei Muara B take to the court in the men’s category at 8.45pm.
