Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
ONG Sum Ping (OSP) escaped with their second win in the National Basketball League after pipping Tutong Basketball 72-70 tonight.
Esmond Tan carried most of the offensive load for OSP with a game-high of 28 points - 21 of them coming in the first half - while Lim Jin Yuan was the other in double figures with 10 to his name in the win.
On the other hand, Onn Jen Hao topscored for Tutong Basketball with 16 points while Khoo Chin Kai added 15 to a losing cause.
OSP were in cruise control as they opened up a 61-47 lead heading into the final period at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
Tutong Basketball missed a handful of chances to close gap early in the fourth quarter.
However, they eventually cut the deficit to single figures after a floater by Khoo to make it 65-56 midway through the period.
A nail biter was on the cards after Jaron On knocked down a three-pointer to make it a two-possession game at 69-63 with three minutes left.
OSP struggled to get anything going and their lead, which was largest at 16 early in the quarter, was down to three after Khoo converted a three-point play with just over a minute to play.
It became a one-point affair with Onn scoring off an offensive putback.
OSP looked to have turned the ball over the next possession but Lim Aik Hock stole the ball at mid court leading to Jin Yuan getting fouled at the with 10 seconds left.
However, he missed both his charities giving Tutong Basketball a chance.
Onn had a great chance to win it but his shot from under the basket was off the mark and he was forced to foul Wun Ta Haw with two seconds to go.
He missed the ensuing freethrow but converted the second to make it 72-70.
Tutong Basketball called a timeout to draw out the play and On managed to get his shot off but only for it to come off the backboard.
Meanwhile, Easyway picked up their second win in as many games with a 94-53 victory over BBA.
