38-year-old Mario Wuysang came in the clutch, hitting a pull-up baseline jumper with 11.1 ticks to go to help Indonesia slip past Thailand, 60-59, in the 2017 SEABA Championship on Friday afternoon at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The victory sends Indonesia to their third win in a row in the regional cagefest, while the Thais — even with top gunner Chitchai Ananti returning after missing yesterday’s game against Vietnam — dropped to 2-1.
Sandy Kurniawan still proved to be the main man for Indonesia, leading his team with 17 markers spiked by five triples alongside three assists. The lanky yet sweet-shooting forward was the only Indonesian who scored in double figures.
The Indonesians once led by as much as nine, 52-43, with 7:49 to go in the final frame, but the Thais responded with a 12-3 scoring spree powered and ended by Ananti’s teardrop to tie things up at 55, still with 4:02 remaining.
Thailand’s Sorot Sunthonsiri sank a one-hander to lift his side by one, 59-58, with 1:50 left to play, until the veteran Indo-American, hailed as their nation’s best floor general, took things in his own hands and nailed the game-winner.
Wuysang, who was shooting 2-of-9 from the floor prior to the clinching bucket, finished with seven markers, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
Ananti anchored Thailand’s attack with a game-high 24 points on a 43.48-percent shooting clip to go with five rebounds, while Patiphan Klahan backed him up with 10 points. Teerawat Chanthachon grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Thais shot just two percent better than the Indonesians, hitting 35 percent from the field. And despite the loss, they managed to control the boards, 45-39. However, Indonesia forced them to 23 miscues, and flipped it to 18 points.
Indonesia will look to extend their streak to four as they face Vietnam tomorrow, Monday, May 15, at 7:00 PM, while Thailand will try to get back on the winning track against Myanmar also tomorrow at 3:00 PM.
The Scores:
Indonesia (60) – Kurniawan 17, Dhyaksa 9, Grahita 9, Sitepu 9, Wuysang 7, Lakudu 4, Pratama 3, Sitorus 2, Nugroho 0.
Thailand (59) – Ananti 24, P. Klahan 10, Chanthachon 6, C. Klahan 5, Samerjai 5, Sunthonsiri 4, Muangboon 3, Dasom 2, Jaisanuk 0, Ghogar 0.
Quarterscores: 11-18, 26-29, 45-39, 60-59.
