Round 3 (Regular Season): Ryukyu GK hand first loss to Meralco Bolts

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Filipino Meralco Bolts (0-1) in Okinawa on Wednesday night. Visitors were rolled over by Japanese Ryukyu GK (2-2) 89-61. Ryukyu GK shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 51.4 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Meralco Bolts' players. It was a good game for American power forward Allen Durham (198-1988, college: Grace Christian) who led his team to a victory with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import power forward Jack Cooley (206-1991, college: Notre Dame, agency: Pensack Sports) contributed with 12 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American-Rwandan center Prince Ibeh (208-1994, college: Texas) answered with 10 points and 9 rebounds for Meralco Bolts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Ryukyu GK will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Meralco Bolts will play on the road against Kings (#3) in Taipei and hope to get finally their first victory.
An interesting game for Taiwanese Fubon Braves (1-2) which hosted in Taipei Filipino TNT Tropang (0-3). Fubon Braves managed to get a 9-point victory 106-97. It was a great evening for American power forward Chris Johnson (210-1985, college: LSU) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Michael Singletary helped adding 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was American-Jordanian forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (201-1995, college: Arizona) with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fubon Braves will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. TNT Tropang will play on the road against Anyang (#2) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
The game in Taipei was also quite interesting. South Korean Knights (2-2) played at the court of Taiwanese Kings (1-0). Kings did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 90-72 on Wednesday. It was an exceptional evening for Kenny Manigault who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Kings' coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Jameel Warney came up with a double-double by scoring 45 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds for Knights in the defeat. Kings will meet at home Meralco Bolts (#4) in the next round. Knights will have a break next round.



Kings - Seoul Knights 90-72

The game in Taipei was also quite interesting. South Korean Knights (2-2) played at the court of Taiwanese Kings (1-0). Kings did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 90-72 on Wednesday. Kings looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American swingman Kenny Manigault (195-1991, college: Pikeville) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Taiwanese-American guard Joseph Lin (186-1992, college: Hamilton) accounted for 21 points and 6 assists for the winning side. Four Kings players scored in double figures. Kings' coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American center Jameel Warney (203-1994, college: Stony Brook) came up with a double-double by scoring 45 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds and the other American import power forward Leon Williams (203-1986, college: Ohio) added 10 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Knights in the defeat. Kings will meet at home Meralco Bolts (#4) in the next round. Knights will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kings: K.Manigault 22+11reb+4ast, J.Lin 21+3reb+6ast, C.Anigwe 19+5reb+1ast, J.Lin 12+8reb+9ast, K.Lee 7+2ast, H.Blankley 7+1reb+1ast
Seoul Knights: J.Warney 45+11reb+2ast, L.Williams 10+11reb+1ast, C.Song 5+2reb+2ast, I.Heo 5+2reb, S.Kim 4+3reb+4ast, O.Jaehyun 3+4reb+1ast

Fubon Braves - TNT Tropang 106-97

An interesting game for Taiwanese Fubon Braves (1-2) which hosted in Taipei Filipino TNT Tropang (0-3). Fubon Braves managed to get a 9-point victory 106-97. Fubon Braves players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. It was a great evening for American power forward Chris Johnson (210-1985, college: LSU) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Michael Singletary (198-1988, college: Texas Tech) helped adding 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Singletary is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Fubon Braves players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American-Jordanian forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (201-1995, college: Arizona) with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 10 assists and American forward Quincy Miller-Scott (206-1992, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fubon Braves will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. TNT Tropang will play on the road against Anyang (#2) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Fubon Braves: C.Johnson 29+9reb+4ast, M.Singletary 26+10reb+6ast, S.Barefield 21+5reb+7ast, I.Eboka 13+3reb, H.Tseng 8+2reb+1ast, T.Jian 6+2ast
TNT Tropang: Q.Miller-Scott 34+10reb+1ast, R.Hollis-Jefferson 33+6reb+10ast, C.Oftana 14+8reb+3ast, G.Khobuntin 5+5reb+1ast, B.Heruela 5+3reb+3ast, M.Tolomia 3+1ast

Ryukyu GK - Meralco Bolts 89-61

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Filipino Meralco Bolts (0-1) in Okinawa on Wednesday night. Visitors were rolled over by Japanese Ryukyu GK (2-2) 89-61. Ryukyu GK shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 51.4 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Meralco Bolts' players. It was a good game for American power forward Allen Durham (198-1988, college: Grace Christian) who led his team to a victory with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import power forward Jack Cooley (206-1991, college: Notre Dame, agency: Pensack Sports) contributed with 12 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Durham is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Ryukyu GK players scored in double figures. American-Rwandan center Prince Ibeh (208-1994, college: Texas) answered with 10 points and 9 rebounds and Filipino-American guard Chris Newsome (187-1990, college: Georgetown, KY) added 11 points in the effort for Meralco Bolts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Ryukyu GK will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Meralco Bolts will play on the road against Kings (#3) in Taipei and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Ryukyu GK: K.Imamura 19+3ast, A.Durham 16+9reb+6ast, J.Cooley 12+8reb+2ast, M.Yoshiyuki 11+3reb+1ast, H.Falcon 9+2reb+2ast, R.Kishimoto 9+1reb+4ast
Meralco Bolts: C.Newsome 11+3reb+3ast, P.Ibeh 10+9reb, C.Hodge 10+4reb+1ast, B.Aaron 6+4reb+1ast, R.Almazan 6+7reb, D.Miguel Dario 5+2reb+1ast