The Philippines-Mighty Sports banked on another excellent Al Thornton outing in the closing minutes to fend off a pesky Iran, 80-73, and notch their six straight victory in the 38th William Jones Cup Friday afternoon in New Taipei City in Taiwan.
The former NLEX reinforcement starred once again for the Philippines, posting a double-double with 24 points – 12 in the fourth – and 10 rebounds. Spencer supplied 21 points, while Senegalese center Hamady N’Diaye added 14 markers and five blocks.
Both squads started slow in the first quarter, with the score still tied at 6-all with 5:18 on the clock. However, the Philippines, from the said deadlock, picked up their rhythm on offense first and unloaded a 14-4 scoring spree behind Thornton, Dewarick Spencer, Zach Graham, and Mike Singletary to end the first ten minutes in Mighty Sports’ favor, 20-10
The Iranians started to hit their shots, especially from outside, to inch closer to Philippines, 26-18, with 4:56 remaining in the second quarter. Mighty Sports, meanwhile, provided answers to every Iran basket to keep them at bay. With Spencer and 6’10” big man Vernon Macklin joining hands, the Iranians could not keep up, and the first half closed out with Philippines ahead by 12, 36-24.
Philippines went cold in the third canto, and their twelve-point lead evaporated and became just four, 38-34, after Iran’s offense went fluid. Mighty Sports widened the gap to nine, 43-34, but Iran came back and sparked an 11-3 run to take the lead, 47-46, with 2:51 left. A close affair ensued then, and the frame wrapped up with the Philippines hanging to a one-point lead, 53-52.
Up by just a point, 64-63, midway into the final frame, Mighty Sports scored ten unanswered points anchored by Thornton to post another double-digit lead, 74-63, with 3:51 to go. Iran ran back and kept it close, but Thornton, again, took over and nailed two successful three-point plays down the stretch to preserve the victory for the Philippines, 80-73.
Mighty Sports (6-0), now two wins away from winning the Jones Cup title, will play their second to the last game tomorrow, July 30, against Egypt.
Quarterscores: 20-10, 36-24, 53-52. 80-73
