Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
PROPEL Services & Trading led from start to finish to top Group C of the YOU.C1000 Cup after edging Fateh 75-70 in the last group stage match on Saturday.
The victory sets them up against Easyway in the quarter-finals on Monday at 8.30pm.
Alvin Goh led the way with a game-high of points 19 points while Paul Biala dropped 16.
Lim Jin Shyang added 13 while Zhang Yu chipped in 11 in the win.
On the other side, four players hit double figure scoring with Ryan Francisco topping the scoreboard with 16 points.
Friedrich Bernabe poured in 15 while the duo of John Casanas and Gerald Balaota contributed 14 each.
Propel had led by as many as 13 points in the third period and carried a 55-48 advantage into the decisive frame.
The game was tied at 57-57 with over seven minutes left after three consecutive triples by Francisco.
Each time Propel looked to pull away, Fateh had an answer at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
A short jumper courtesy of Balaota made it 67-65 with 2:47 left to play.
Fateh were whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul on Goh late on.
He hit the first but missed on the second from the charity stripe.
With ball possession, Yong Yaw Ren found an unmarked Biala for an easy two down under.
Bernabe was fouled at the other end and he made both his attempts from the line.
Biala then scored a runner and finished off another layup after a steal to make it a three-possession game with 43 seconds left at 74-67.
Balaota knocked down two freethrows at the other end before Zhang turned the balled over at midcourt.
Bernabe was fouled and he split his charities with 15 seconds to go with the scoreboard reading 74-70.
Fateh, in a desperate attempt to stop the clock, fouled Mike Teo.
He went one for two and Zhang secured the offensive board to settle the encounter.
