The very same team that dealt Philippine team iECO Green Warriors a harsh 28-point beatdown has won it all.
The Ryukyu Golden Kings of Japan have won the inaugural Terrific 12 championship, as they took down Chinese ball club Guangzhou Long Lions, 85-76, Sunday evening at a packed Studio City Events Center in Macau.
Ryukyu practically won the tournament with a four-game sweep.
Josh Scott led the Golden Kings with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Ryuichi Kishimoto produced 21 points as well on 60 percent-shooting from the floor, while Jeff Ayres and naturalized Japanese Ira Brown chimed in 11 points each.
Ryukyu blew a 10-point lead with 6:50 remaining in the last quarter and allowed the opposition to tie the game at 70-all less than two minutes later, but they responded with a 12-4 run to close the door on Guangzhou permanently.
Kishimoto was named the Finals’ Most Valuable Player, as he was the one who anchored Ryukyu’s finishing touches.
Guangzhou’s loss wasted the efforts of Kyle Fogg, who dropped 40 points. Ju Mingxin was his only support with 13 points, as former NBA player Marresse Speights was only able to contribute nine markers on 2-of-15 shooting.
The Long Lions was this year’s Summer Super 8 champions.
Photo from Power Sport Images
Meanwhile, the Seoul Samsung Thunders of South Korea capped off their Terrific 12 campaign on a high note by finishing in third place, as they took down Japanese ball club Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, 105-92.
The Thunders led by as much as 14 in the game, until the Dolphins managed to come close by six in the fourth quarter. Fortunately for the Koreans, their shots fell at the right time, and their lead rose again and drowned Nagoya.
Glenn Cosey led Seoul with 34 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Ben Mbala made 27 points and 12 rebounds, while local star Lee Gwan Hee produced a double-double of his own with 16 markers and 10 boards with two steals.
Former PBA import Markeith Cummings set the pace for the Diamond Dolphins with 29 points and eight rebounds. Shuto Ando had 18 points and five rebounds, while Toshihiro Nakatsuka supplied 12 markers on 10 shots.
