Jones Cup: Mighty PH goes 3-0

NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan—Philippine representative Mighty Sports Apparels boosted its title bid by hurdling another obstacle with relatively ease for the second straight night here.

Fil-Am Jason Brickman anchored another furious second quarter assault as Mighty Sports clobbered Sacramento State University, 88-69, in the 38th William Jones Cup at Xinzhuang gym here.

Four players, led by the sweet-shooting Dewarick Spencer and former PBA player Vernion Macklin, scored in double figures but the night simply belonged to Brickman.

Aside from orchestrating the team’s offensive with razor-sharp precision, the 5-foot-9 Brickman was perfect from the field as he made all his three field goals—two triples and a completed three-point play—as Mighty Sports remained tied for the lead with defending champion Iran at 3-0.

The ABL veteran also had five assists, four rebounds and two steals, figures that more than made up for a passing error early in the game.

“We were slacking off on offense in the first quarter but good thing they found our range late in the second quarter,” said coach Bo Perasol. “We have good and talented players but we need to preserve our energy because this tournament is a daily thing.”

Mighty Sports took sizable 49-33 lead after unleashing a fiery 17-2 attack that Brickman capped with a booming triple.

They were never threatened after that as Spencer, Al Thornton and Mike Singletary made big baskets each time the Hornets threatened to make a comeback.

The Hornets outrebounded the Mighty Sports dribblers, 46-40, but their shooting was awful after making only 30 of 83 tries from the field.

Though it made only 25 of 63 attempts, Mighty Sports’ dominant inside plays gave them 31 gift shots. The scores: MIGHTY SPORTS PHILIPPINES 88— Spencer 14, Macklin 14, Singletary 12, Thornton 12, Brickman 9, Graham 8, Gillenwater 7, N’Diaye 6, Salvacion 3, Rodriguez 3, Tang 0, Teng 0.

USA-SACRAMENTO STATE 69— Dressler 16, Wu13, Ugbaja 8, Batagglia 8, Stuteville 8, Graves 6, Herrick 4, Hornsby 4, Mauriohooho Le'afa 2, Patton 0, Jackson 0, Strings 0.

Quarters: 23-23, 54-35, 69-50, 88-69