Yuan Shui face Starry Sports in semis

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FINGER ROLL: Ma Chee Kheun (top) scored 16 points for Yuan Shui’s 81-46 victory over Efos Kimbay. — Photo by Teo Chi Wei

KUCHING: Yuan Shui registered their second win when they beat Efos Kimbay 81-46 and qualified for the semi-finals of the Kuching Open basketball championship on Friday night.

Boosted by the inclusion of two import players from Sarawak Fire Horse team Ma Chee Kheun and Voon Yiew Ting, Yuan Shui led 44-23 at half-time.

Yuan Shui rested their key players halfway into the third half to let their reserves strut their stuff and went ahead 65-30.

In the final quarter, Yuan Shui’s key players only played for a short time and the reserves finished the job to win by 35 points.

Lai Chee Wei was Yuan Shui’s top scorer with 20 points, 18 of which were from three-pointers, while Ma and Voon had 16 and 15 points respectively.

Although Efos lost to Yuan Shui, they still advanced to the last four as they finished second in Group B with three points and they will meet defending champions Lord Tiger in the semi-finals next Tuesday.

The other semi-final will be contested between Yuan Shui and Starry Sports after the latter beat Buddies 81-55 in their final Group A match.

Tsok Khian Hong was key to Starry Sports’ win as the top scorer netted 17 points while his teammates Ezeilo Valentino Odera contributed 16 points and Mohamad Hafifi had 10 points.

On the other hand, Gerald Wong was Buddies’ top scorer with 17 points.

In the four-team women’s competition, Boon Ting Products survived a late onslaught from GT Industries to win 54-46 and collected two valuable points.

The win boosted their chances of finishing among the top two teams who will face off in the final next Wednesday night.

After two games, both Pest and Boon Ting have collected four points but Pest are the leaders based on the difference of total points scored.

Former national cager Bong Yik Kee starred for Boon Ting with a team-high 16 points while Liew Pei Yong contributed 14 points.

Josephine Wong and Claudina Kok were GT Industries’ top scorers with 14 and 12 points respectively.

The competition made way for the 13th General Election from yesterday and will resume next Monday when Hua Ping Trading will take on Stranger at 6.45pm to decide fifth and sixth spots in the men’s competition.

Other fixtures next Monday will see final group matches being played between GT Industries and Batu Lintang Seafood at 8pm and Pest against Boon Ting Products at 9.15pm.