MACAU – The Guangzhou Long Lions ruled the Asia League Super 8 2018 with a 78-72 escape act over the Seoul Samsung Thunders in the championship game Sunday at Macao East Asian Games Dome here.
Ju Mingxin exploded for 25 points and five rebounds to guide the Chinese side to the title.
Seven-footer Zheng Zhun added 13 points and seven boards off the bench as all but one of the 12 players in the Long Lions lineup scored in the game.
Guangzhou’s path to the podium ran through Filipino teams Blackwater in the group stages and NLEX in the semifinals.
Former Phoenix import Lee Gwan Hee paced the Thunders with 34 points on a 6-of-10 shooting from the field, on top of 10 rebounds, while Kim Dong Uk had 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the runner-up finish.
NLEX settled for a fourth-place finish after losing to Korean side ETLand Elephants, 67-62, in the bronze medal game earlier in the day.
The scores:
GUANGZHOU 78 – Ju 25, Zheng 13, Guo 7, Shirelijian 6, Yao 6, Minyang 5, Song 4, Wang 4, Gu 3, Heng 3, Tian 2.
SEOUL SAMSUNG 72 – Lee 34, Kim DU 14, Jang 12, Cheon 5, Choi 3, Hong 3, Bae 1, Cha 0, Sung 0.
Quarters: 23-10, 42-33, 59-47, 78-72.
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