Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
CUCKOO successfully defended their YOU.C1000 Veteran Basketball crown after hanging on for a 65-59 win over CJMM on Sunday.
Voon Yiew Ting led all players with a game-high of 21 points for Cuckoo.
Esmond Tan was the other in double figures with 16 to his name.
On the other hand, Reymundo Maquiraya and Kenny Lim poured in 15 points for CJMM in a losing effort.
It was neck and neck from tip off at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat as CJMM led 17-16 at the end of the first frame.
Cuckoo turned it around in the second as they outscored their opponents 19-7 for a double digit lead.
Jong Guo Zhang was a spark off the bench for seven points in the period.
Cuckoo played good defence as they opened up a 35-24 gap at halftime.
In contrast, Cuckoo struggled after the interval playing with only eight players.
They were taking shots from the outside and missing them.
CJMM pushed the tempo and had their chances to go in front but trailed 44-43 going into the decisive quarter.
It remained a one point game till Cuckoo scored seven unanswered points within a one minute span opening up a 58-50 lead with four minutes left to play.
Cuckoo could have closed out earlier but missed a handful of freethrows to give CJMM a lifeline.
Kevin Tay found an open Jong underneath the basket to finish the hoop and harm with 1:30 on the clock to make it 61-53.
He missed the ensuing freethrow but stripped Jauhaili at the defensive end.
They then wound the clock before finding an open Tan for an easy deuce to make it a 10-point game with under a minute left.
CJMM failed to capitalise on the foul trouble of Cuckoo's big men and settled for outside shots.
Having come up empty handed, Kevin Tay then iced the game with a basket at the other end to see Cuckoo lift the trophy for the second straight year.
Meanwhile, Kinderflair Basketball Team claimed the bronze after breezing past GHK Motors 85-55 in the third-place playoff.
Richard Tugbo was the high man with 23 points for Kinderflair.
Gabriel Co notched 17 while Jomel Datuin and Ronald chipped in 15 and 10 respectively.
On the other side, the pair of Ben Sim and Kho Leang Teck dropped 13 points apiece for GHK.
Vince Soon was the other in double figures with 10 in the defeat.
