The iECO Green Warriors got a humiliating reception in Macau as they were torn to pieces by the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 75-103, in the Asia League’s The Terrific 12 opener, Tuesday night at the Studio City Event Center.
The Green Warriors looked lost right from the start, when they allowed the club team from the Japan B.League to open the game with a 17-0 blitz. iECO never had an opportunity for a comeback after that.
Matt Salem led the Philippine contingent with 15 points on four triples, along with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Batchmate Kris Porter chipped in 12 markers on 5-of-7 shooting from the field in exactly 22 minutes of playing time.
Import Sam Logwood only had 10 markers on 4-of-14 shooting and nine rebounds for iECO, who only shot 36 percent from the floor.
Adding salt to their wound, the Green Warriors may be a man short for the tournament, as reinforcement Richard Howell hurt his left knee in the 6:26-mark of the first quarter after an accidental collision.
The former Talk N Text import had to be carried off a stretcher.
Five Golden Kings finished in double figures in the dominant victory, with Josh Scott spearheading the attack with 17 points and seven rebounds. Fellow import Josh Ayres scattered 12 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists.
Ryukyu, who shot 50 percent of their field goals, led by as many as 35 points multiple times in the match.
Another tough challenge is on the horizon for the Green Warriors, as they will next face former NBA veteran Al Jefferson and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of China on Thursday, September 20, at 7:00 in the evening.
The Scores:
iECO (75) – Salem 15, Porter 12, Logwood 10, Banal 9, Reyes 6, Munzon 5, Scharer 4, Dennison 4, Sena 4, Cruz 3, Toth 3, Howell 0.
Ryukyu (103) – Scott 17, Furukawa 15, Suda 14, Hashimoto 13, Ayres 12, Kishimoto 8, Kantake 7, Kinjo 6, Ishizaki 5, Namizato 4, Tashiro 2.
Quarterscores: 5-23, 24-56, 52-85, 75-103.
