Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
FUZHOU Shiyyi Association dethroned Easyway 75-74 in a thrilling semi-finals of the YOU.C1000 Cup on Tuesday night.
Easyway had clawed their way back from 16 points down for a nail-biting finale at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
It was end-to-end stuff in the closing two minutes as both sides traded baskets.
Ahmad Termizi Hj Nordeen had scored a layup for Fuzhou with 1:34 left on the clock but Ben Sim responded immediately at the other end.
Lim Liang Wei then slashed to the rim for a layup but Khoo Chin Kai retaliated with a trey to keep it at 69-74.
However, Lim missed on a layup with 32 seconds to go that gave Easyway an opening which Khoo took advantage off with another basket.
Chris Chiew came up with a big block on Lim six seconds later that saw Sim fouled at the other end.
He connected on both his attempts at the line to bring Easyway within a point - 73-74.
Chiew fouled Mizi on the inbounds and later missed the first before knocking down the second to make it a two-point game.
Fuzhou did a good job in not allowing Easyway to get a shot off but Sim was eventually fouled by Esmond Tan with five seconds left in regulation.
Sim made his first throw but unfortunately missed the second as Fuzhou hung on for the win.
Lim led the way at the offensive end for Fuzhou with a game-high of 25 points.
Ahmad Termizi Hj Noordeen added 19 points while Esmond Tan chipped in 12 in the victory.
On the other hand, Ben Sim topscored for Easyway with 16 points while Khoo Chin Kai notched 15.
The duo of Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin and Jake Chong contributed 14 and 12 respectively in the defeat.
Fuzhou began the game with full court man to man defence and built their lead to as large as 42-26 with three minutes before halftime.
They kept their gap in double figures most of the way and Easyway finally got close late in the third frame.
With the scoreboard reading 56-43 with three minutes to go, Easyway used a 9-0 run - with Chong scoring seven straight - to get to within four points.
Fuzhou were careless with their turnovers but held on to a 59-52 lead going into the final period.
Easyway chipped the lead away and a pair of freethrows by Ong An made it a one possession game at 61-63 with over six minutes to play.
It looked as if Fuzhou would close out their opponents as Jerson Mendoza hit a jumper to put Fuzhou up 68-61 two minutes later.
But instead fans were treated to another classic in the annual competition.
