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Pegasus Beats Phantoms in OT Thriller

Swoosh marches through to the Finals

Pegasus beats the odd and books a place in the Final by winning over Phantoms in perhaps the best game in the Remix Non Chinese Basketball League 2008. The score was knotted at 42 points after 40 minutes, and the game went to overtime, where Masri Redza Iskandar scored the winning free throw.

Pegasus started the game aggressively despite having only 6 players at the start of the game. They closed the the first quarter by leading 17-9. Phantoms fought back in the second quarter, outscoring Pegasus 16-13. Both teams went into halftime with Pegasus leading 30-25. C Faries had 6 points while Amirul Effendy had 5 points during the quarterfor the Phantoms . Phantoms’ leader Rushdi picked up his 4th foul during the quarter.

The third quarter saw the trademark defense of both teams, with Pegasus contesting every shots, while Phantoms forced a dozen of turnovers from the Pegasus offense. Phantoms made 3 shots from behind the arc, 2 from Amirul and 1 from Zunnasri, and Amin, Panje and Lolo contributed 2 points each for Pegasus to keep them in the game. Phantoms’ Rushdi fouled out End of the third quarter, 38-36, Pegasus still had the upperhand. This setup a thrilling 4th Quarter.

Both offenses struggled against the superb defending by both Pegasus and Phantoms, every shot contested, good defensive rebounding, fouls were aplenty, Lolo and Bo from Pegasus and Amirul Zunasri for Phantoms fouling out. With less than 2:00 to play, Phantoms were in control with a 2 point lead. Score was 47-45. Panje tied the score with less than 1:00. On the next position, Phantoms failed to score, and Pegasus has the ball to setup the final position. Aboy had the chance to win the game with a jump shot, but decided to pass to Jijun instead. Another turnover for Pegasus when the ball went out of bounds, and the horn sounded the end of regular time with the score tied.

In Overtime, Pegasus regained their confidence, continuing their shutdown defense. Phantoms were not to be left behind and applied their defense as well. Both teams had trouble to score, but Phantoms took the lead with a free throw from backup PG Rushnizam. Phantoms 50, Pegasus 49. 1:00 minute left to play, Panje made a basket and the lead swings Pegasus’s way. The next possession was fruitless for Phantoms, and Pegasus rebounded and launched a fastbreak. Panje went for a layup, but was fouled by a Phantom, and made one shot out of two, extending Pegasus’s lead to 2 points. The ensuing possession was also fruitless for the Phantoms, and Pegasus has the ball. Masri was fouled, and went to the line, making one of two shots, and Phantoms were trailing by three.

Phantoms came strong on the next possession, PG Rushnizam again scoring a field goal and cuts the deficit to one point. With 26 seconds left in the game, Pegasus had a chance to extend their lead and close the game. But that was not to be. A silly turnover gave the ball back to Phantoms with about 10 seconds left to play. Timeout was called by the Phantoms to setup their final possession.  Pegasus pressured the Phantoms’ Zunnasri to miss a shot that would have won the game, and at that second Pegasus gave Phantoms another chance at the game by leaving Rushnizam to pickup the offensive rebound and release a last gasp shot. The shot clanked off the rim, and Pegasus advances to the Finals.

Swoosh shook off a below par shooting from Yasier and Ramesh to win 59-49 over Cocoro in the other Semifinal. Guganeswaran (Abi) of Swoosh had a great game with 5 3pointers, a handful of assists that drew an appreciative “oohs” and “ahhsss” from the crowd, and even an occassional chatter with the spectators on the sideline. PF/C Shan was a big factor down low with key rebounds and blocks for Swoosh. Cocoro had a good 3 quarters, keeping the scores close. But fatigued legs in the fourth quarter proved to be Cocoro’s undoing when Swoosh ran away with the game and won 59-49.

The Non Chinese Basketball league Final will be played next week on 17 August 2008, and the venue will be determined later.