Master Tapsi and Smart Dragons racked up their third wins on the trot on Sunday to reaffirm their status as main contenders for the ongoing Chitato Potato Chips Mini Basketball League crown.
Extra Joss Fighters made up lost ground in the league with victory over a tottering Respeck at the Cambodian Country Club court on Sunday evening.
After their midweek loss to Master Tapsi, the Fighters were eager to put their playoff chances back on track, and they did just that with David Sanders (20 points) coming good with layups in the second quarter to give them a 36-25 half-time advantage.
The second half was a washout for Respeck, who are yet to taste victory in the series so far.
The occasional Respeck burst was hardly enough to contain the Fighters, who stretched out well in the final stages to win 74-54.
Smart Dragons worked up little or no sweat in beating Warriors 93-57 to make it three wins in a row for them and as many defeats for their rivals.
Hodkins hit 21 points for the Dragons to offset Kidon’s 16 points for the Warriors.
As is now customary for the Warriors, they kept it tight in the first half, going down by just six points, 30-36.
But by the end of the third quarter, the Dragons had pulled away into a 20-point lead, leaving no room for a Warriors fightback.
The middle pin in Sunday’s three-game card was a tight affair between MSGM and Master Tapsi.
The predominantly Chinese MSGM worried Tapsi by taking the first quarter 23-21.
But the Filipino side’s mainstays Aimar Sabayo (28) and Juano Cunnanan (33) took over in the second quarter to wrest the initiative back and give Tapsi a 43-39 half-time lead.
The leading pair continued their onslaught with fast breaks in the third quarter.
MSGM closed in through Hong Kwang (18) and Harold (20) in the final spell, but Tapsi kept their cool to win comfortably 97-85 and match the Dragons’ all-win record.
