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Fighters, ALLN make CBL semifinals

EJFs’ David Sanders (two) goes for a jump shot as a Team Respeck player attempts a block. Photo supplied
EJFs’ David Sanders (two) goes for a jump shot as a Team Respeck player attempts a block. Photo supplied

Fighters, ALLN make CBL semifinals

Top ranked Extra Joss Fighters and their closest challengers ALLN Confucius Supermen had a smooth passage to the semifinals of the Cambodian Basketball League after scoring second straight wins in the best of three quarterfinal playoffs at the Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena on Saturday.

Last year’s runners-up Fighters extended their winning streak this season to 12 games after brushing aside Team Respeck 94-66 with Tomar Santos (15 points) and Kelechi Njoku (14) leading the charge. David Sanders and Serrano Jasper chipped in with 10 points each as the Fighters led every quarter of the game.

Team Respeck showed greater heart in their fight second time around but that was not good enough to contain the free-wheeling Fighters who led 46-31 at half time. After a low-scoring second quarter on both sides, Team Respeck did very well in the third aided by Johnson Kim (15) and Virak Chea (eight) to come out even at 22 apiece but the Fighters, enjoying a healthy lead, regained control of the final quarter to widen the victory margin.

In the second fixture, the ALLN Supermen swarmed all over Smart Dragons handing them a 80-28 blow-out. The Supermen were so overbearing that the Dragons were forced to single digit scores in the first two quarters and drew a complete blank in the fourth.

The Supermen, who suffered their only loss in the round robin to the Fighters, were served well in the offense by Meng Hama (17) and Aimar Sabayo (12).

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