Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
GHK clinched top spot in Group A of the YOU.C1000 Veteran Basketball Cup after holding on for a 72-66 win over ACLC on Saturday.
Playing without their captain Ben Sim, they had to dig deep to finish the group stage flawless.
Kenny Lim Han Chuan, who didn't play the last match, came up huge for GHK with a game-high of 26 points - 10 of them coming in the final quarter.
Kenny Lim Teck Wee was the other in double figures with 17 points before suffering a cramp in the fourth.
On the other side, Ronnie Vinluan topscored for ACLC with 18 points Aries Castro added 16 and M Laureano dropped 14 in their exit.
GHK led 20-19 at the end of the first period after a see-saw battle at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
The game couldn't be separated by more than two possessions and saw some ties in the third stanza.
GHK began the decisive frame with a 6-0 run and they went back in front for good at that point.
They got their largest lead of the game after a three-pointer by Lim Fung to make it 64-58 with 5:30 left on the clock.
ACLC threw in everything they had and it went down the wire after J Comeros split his freethrows to close to within 67-66 with a minute to go.
Liu Kun Shyong converted a vital layup at the other end and ACLC could only watch Comeros' shot go in and out which led to a quick outlet to Han Chuan.
He missed the open layup but was fouled on the putback for hoop and harm.
The game was then put to bed after he converted from the line for their third consecutive win.
With the result, Fateh will progress as runners-up from the group.
