Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
EASYWAY slipped to a 75-72 defeat at the hands of Yuni-ku in a thrilling Group B opener of the YOU.C1000 Cup on Saturday night.
Ben Sim knocked down six three-pointers enroute to a high of 20 points for Easyway.
Lim Liang Wei added 11 while Devon Lim was the other in double figures with 10.
The duo of Jake Chong and Jeremy Chu contributed nine points apiece in the defeat.
On the other hand, Asi Medina led the way for Yuni-ku with 20 points and nine boards.
Kenny Lim notched 13 points while Brendan Lim scored nine in the triumph.
Neither team could be separated by more than two possessions for most of the game at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
The match went down the wire with Easyway sticking their noses in front 66-63 with over six minutes left to play.
However, their shooting touch left them and they couldn't get their shots to fall from range.
Yuni-ku then went on an 8-0 in a span of three minutes before Sim ended the drought with a trey to cut the deficit to 71-69.
Kenny came up with a big defensive stop to steal the ball off Liang Wei the next possession allowing Kon Yee Hung to finish from close range.
After another empty trip for Easyway, Aristeo Fullado made it a six-point gap at the other end.
Following a turnover off an inbounds pass, Easyway failed to capitalise as William Ching missed an open three with 48 seconds left.
But they secured the offensive rebound and Sim knocked down a corner three to keep spectators at the edge of their seats.
Kon was fouled off the inbounds but Easyway were given a lifeline after he missed both his charities.
Coming down the floor, Chu attempted a trey and was short but the ball was saved by Sim.
Easyway swung the ball around and it reached Chu once again with three defenders rushing towards him as his shot was just off.
The ball went out of bounds off Yuni-ku with 0.3 seconds left.
The final play saw Easyway get the ball in the hands of Liang Wei but the final buzzer had gone as he got the shot off.
