Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BETA Kitchen came back from 12 points down at halftime to edge THEvent.Co 76-73 in Group B of the YOU.C1000 Fuzhou Cup quarter-finals last night.
The game went down the wire with Beta Kitchen leading 74-71 with over 30 seconds to play at the Fuzhou Shiyyi Association building in Berakas.
Lim Liang Wei then converted a layup at the other end to make it a one point game.
Beta Kitchen just ran the clock as THEvent.Co were not in the penalty situation yet.
Christopher Chiew was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul sending Tan to the line with just six seconds left where he converted both to put the game to bed.
Playing without Alvin Goh, Shim Jan Ting topscored for Beta Kitchen with 18 points while Tan added 17, eight of them coming in the fourth period.
Koh Wee Chian notched 15 points and Ng Lit How was the other in double figures with 11 to his name in the victory.
On the other hand, Lim produced a game-high of 23 points to pace THEvent.Co. The duo of Mendoza and Martinez poured in 17 and 16 points respectively to a losing cause.
After trailing by only three points at the end of the opening period, Beta Kitchen struggled to get going at the offensive end in the second quarter.
They were held scoreless for more than five minutes allowing THEvent.Co to come out on top 42-30 at the break.
Beta Kitchen started the second half with seven unanswered points to get themselves back in the game. They were were unable to get to closer than two possessions.
THEvent.Co did extend their lead to as large as 10 points again before Beta Kitchen closed to within 58-52 going into the decisive frame.
The momentum was with Beta Kitchen and they finally closed to 63-62 after a three-pointer by Koh and they grabbed the lead for the first time in the game with under six minutes after a basket by Tan.
THEvent.Co regained the lead after a three-point play by Lim followed by a three-pointer by Acosta.
Beta Kitchen then used a 6-0 of their own to get back in front once again after a jumper by Ng.
Shim made it a three-point game after knocking down a pair of freethrows with 1:23 left on the clock to make it 72-69 enroute a thrilling ending.
The second game saw Bandar Estates win their seventh straight with a 77-66 triumph over BruPay in Group A.
