Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
PROPEL x Teik Goldsmith took care of business with a 79-59 win over The Defender in Group A of the YOU.C1000 Cup on Saturday.
Grant Goddard was unstoppable with a 31-point performance to lead Propel x Teik Goldsmith.
Alvin Goh was the other in double figures with 18 to his name in the victory at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
The pair of Phuoh Wee Kit and Kenny Lim paced The Defender with 16 points each in a losing effort.
Propel x Teik Goldsmith went with man-to-man defence right from tip off and it worked a charm.
They held their opponents to only five baskets in the opening frame as they opened up a 20-12 lead heading into the second frame.
Propel x Teik Goldsmith utilised their height advantage and Goddard had his way inside the paint with nine first quarter points.
The gap grew into double figures early into the second stanza.
It was a low scoring affair as both sides missed goods looks and the shortage of a coach for The Defender was a disadvantage resulting in the lack of rotations.
However, they remained within reach trailing 33-22 at halftime.
It was free flowing offence for both teams after the interval as they traded baskets.
Phuoh had the hot hands for The Defender to keep his team within striking distance.
On the other side, Goddard was piping hot in the third as he went four for four from behind the arc to finish with 14 in the 10-minute frame.
The Defender looked defeated as Propel x Teik Goldsmith were firmly in control 64-41 going into the last quarter.
They got their largest lead after a three-pointer courtesy of Ting Heng Lee to make it 73-47 midway through the decisive period.
It was merely a scrimmage from then on as Propel x Teik Goldsmith got their campaign off on the right note.
In the earlier match, CJMM defeated Mango Cake 67-41 for their third straight win in the women's category.
The result means they will battle Propel x Teik Goldsmith for supremacy heading into the knockout rounds on Monday at 7pm.
Nur Hafizah Hj Abd Sidek was the topscorer for CJMM with 22 points while Suzanne added 18.
On the other hand, Chong Yi Hui led Mango Cake with 12 points while Ashley Chua notched 10.
The competition resumes on Sunday with Minimau and Hoopsters fighting for a spot in knockout rounds at 7pm.
The winner will advance as the fourth seed going into the semi-finals.
The second game will see The Rookies take on Faze in the Under-18 category at 8.45pm.
