TAIPEI - Imports Zach Graham and Dewarick Spencer delivered crucial baskets down the stretch to tow the Philippines-Mighty Sports to a hard-earned 89-81 win over host Chinese Taipei A Sunday night in the 38th William Jones Cup at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium here.
Graham, a former import of Air 21, and Spencer, a high-scoring guard in the Korean Basketball League, hit crucial three-pointers apiece to keep the rallying Taiwanese at bay and steer the Philippines-Mighty Sports to the win.
Spencer led the way for the winning team with 26 points.
It was a tough win for the heavily-reinforced Philippine side, which charged back from a 16-point deficit in the first period against the host squad.
The Philippines had a slow start and found themselves trailing by as many as 16 points (26-10) as only Troy Gillenwater was able to carry the load in the early goings for the visitors.
But once Spencer and Graham were inserted into the game, the Philippines-Mighty Sports finally got its game going.
Behind their reinforcements, the team outscored the Taiwanese, 26-10, in the second period to turn things around.
The scores
Mighty Sports (89) – Spencer 27, Gillenwater 19, N’Diaye 13, Graham 12, Singletary 7, Thornton 5, Maclin 6, Brickman 0, Teng 0, Salvacion 0, Avenido 0.
Taiwan-A (81) – Liu 25, Chou 21, Davis 11, Yang 11, Chen 5, Lee 2, Chou 1, Creighton 0.
Quarterscores: 13-27; 40-37; 65-50; 89-81.
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