Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
FITNESS Zone closed out with nine unanswered points in the final two minutes to fend off Systematic Living 76-67 in the Open category of the Chairman's Cup last night.
Having trailed by as many as 11 points at the break, Systematic Living finally got to within a single basket after a jumper by Eric Palanca to bring the score to 57-55 with over six minutes to play.
Fitness Zone responded immediately with eight consecutive points off turnovers in the next two minutes to go back up by 10 at the BBA court in Batu Bersurat.
Systematic Living then took a timeout and responded with two straight three-pointers courtesy of Ahmad Termizi Nordeen and Don Mordeno respectively.
Fitness Zone did get one basket back through Francis Barcellano before Mordeno knocked down a pair of treys to see the score tied at 67-67 with two minutes to go.
Fitness Zone were forced to take a timeout to regroup and it worked to perfection to see them score six quick points in less than a minute enroute to victory.
Alvin Goh finished with a game-high of 23 points for Fitness Zone and Barcellano added 17 points.
Kevin Tay was the other in double figures with 13 points, which included three field goals from behind the arc, to his name.
On the other hand, Mizi led the way for Systematic Living with 17 points while Palanca notched 15.
The duo of Mordeno and Matthew Jerrickson contributed 11 points each to a losing cause.
