Guang Ming College and Veejay Pre fell short against host team Chinese Taipei, suffering a 91–84 defeat that ended their title hopes in the 2024 BLIA Cup University Basketball Invitational on Saturday at the Fongshan Sports Arena in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
The home team put on a shooting clinic, knocking down 12 triples and converting 15 of 18 attempts from the free-throw line with impressive efficiency.
Chinese Taipei rode their hot shooting to a 53–37 lead at halftime and maintained a comfortable cushion, 73–58, entering the final frame.
Defense also played a crucial role, as the hosts limited Veejay Pre to just 23 points on 7-of-18 shooting, while also holding him to only five rebounds.
James Payosing led the Flying Dragons with 23 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Rainer Maga chipped in 16 points.
However, key contributor Russell Ogana was held scoreless, which proved costly for the Philippine side.
With Pre struggling, Stephen Chibuzor stepped up with a gritty performance, tallying seven points and 12 rebounds.
Guang Ming College will now compete for third place and face the loser of the Hou Chon–Malaysia Select matchup.
Chen Fan Po Yen led Chinese Taipei with 20 points, while Sung Hsin Hao and Lin Sin Kuan added 16 and 13 points, respectively.
