HONG Kong Eastern pulled off an epic 82-80 double overtime victory over Singapore on Sunday to clinch the Asean Basketball League (ABL) title in its maiden season at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
Marcus Elliott had 26 points and eight assists while Tyler Lamb added 21 points. The two Hong Kong imports also scoring the final five points of the title-clinching Game Four win.
The Long Lions won the best-of-five series, 3-1, to complete a season to remember that saw the expansion squad dominate the regular season with a 16-4 win-loss record before sweeping Saigon in the best-of-three semifinals.
Elliott scored three straight to overturn a 77-78 deficit before Lamb made it an 82-78 Long Lions lead with 2:29 left in double overtime.
Leon Kwek made it a two-point game, but missed a potential game-tying shot in the final possession of Game Four.
It was another disappointing end to the campaign of the Slingers, who suffered their second straight finals setback and remained without a title despite being one of only two remaining pioneers in the league.
Fil-American Josh Urbiztondo had 16 points including a triple that tie the game at 68 with 1:38 left in regulation, paving the way for the first extra time.
Xavier Alexander topscored for Singapore with 20 points, including a basket that sent the game into a second overtime, 74-74.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
