Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TK/CJMM dethroned Wan Sing for the YOU.C1000 Cup title after an 82-72 win in an entertaining final on Friday.
Jomarie Corpuz scored a game-high of 25 points to pace TK/CJMM in the title decider.
Cleverson Baguioro produced a good showing with 19 points while Gary Antonio added 12 in the triumph.
On the other side, Joven Dungog topscored for Wan Sing with 22 points - playing the entire match without substitution until fouling out with under a minute left.
Eric Palanca poured in 21 and Asi Medina is the other in double figures with 12.
TK/CJMM deployed a box-one defence on Dungog right from the start for the entire encounter at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
It prevented the Wan Sing talisman to create for his teammates and allowed them to stay in front 19-16 at the end of the opening period.
TK/CJMM were going with the quick outlet passes to Corpuz for points.
It was neck-and-neck throughout as a see-saw battle ensued with several ties and lead changes.
Dungog started to heat up for 13 points in the second period - total of 17 in the first half.
He used up all 24 seconds on the clock to beat the buzzer with a three to put Wan Sing up 45-44 at halftime.
TK/CJMM started to create a gap after the break as Wan Sing couldn't get their shots to fall.
A three-pointer by Baguioro made it a 10-point game at 59-49 midway through the quarter.
TK/CJMM also had plenty of second chance opportunities as they dominated the boards.
Back-to-back baskets by Wan Sing to trim the deficit down to six resulting in a timeout by TK/CJMM.
They regrouped and closed out the stanza to hang on for a 64-55 lead going into the decisive frame.
Medina scored the first two baskets in the fourth period before Elvin Requintin finished a fastbreak layup to calm their nerves.
The game could sway either way as it stayed within two possessions but Wan Sing were at a disadvantage with a smaller rotation.
They ran on empty and the dagger came when Cleverson dribbled up top for a stop and pop to knock down a three-pointer from to make it 78-67 with two minutes left.
It soon became a freethrow contest as Wan Sing started fouling to stop the clock.
But it was all in vain as TK/CJMM were unfazed and went on to capture the title.
Present as the guest of honour to hand out the prizes to the winners was Katherine Hii, the manager of Hui Huang Enterprise, the sole distributor of YOU.C1000 in Brunei.
