Amur State University of Russia stunned erstwhile unbeaten Ningbo University of China, 93-80, to end its campaign on a high note in the 10th Asian University Basketball Championship at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Amur State University of Russia’s Roman Shillin fired a game-high 28 points, including eight three-pointers, to lead the eight-player Fighting Bears to an impressive win and a runner-up finish in this prestigious tournament organized by Basketball Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Asian University Basketball Federation.
Vitali Zalogin added 22 points, Ura Koratin contributed 15 points and Anton Shilin had 13 points for Amur State University, which finished with a 3-2 win-loss record in the six-team, single-round tournament supported by the City Government of Manila, headed by Mayor Joseph Estrada, and Manila Sports Council head Philip Cezar.
Despite the loss by to Amur State University, Ningbo University still clinched the crown with a 4-1 record.
Li Cheng Luan finished with 24 points for Ningbo University, followed by Ye Jia Guan with 23 and Hui Liu Fan with 17.
BAP president Robert Milton Calo, AUBC Organizing Committee chairman Leonardo “Ding” Andres and AUBF Deputy Secretary-General Park Hyun Mo of South Korea awarded the trophies to the winners.
In the first game, University of Perpetual Help Jonelta System defeated Farmco Knight Club of Malaysia, 75-65, to improve its record to 3-2 and finish third overall.
With multi-titled coach Victor Escudero calling the shots, the Saints went to the troika of Sean Dillon Laban, John Carlo Villar, and John Angelo Rosale to roll back the Knights.
Laban scattered 21 points, Villar added 17 points with five three-point shots and Rosale had 11 points for the Biñan City-based team of Dr. Antonio Laperal Tamayo.
Escudero was ably assisted by coach Merlin Custodio.
Liew Kar Coon and Chin Reck Wei finished with 15 points apiece for Farmco University, which wound up with a 2-3 card for fourth place.
The Nippon Sport Science University of Japan crushed Technological University of the Philippines, 83-38, for its second straight win and a 2-3 card for fifth place.
Horoaki Isono scored 16 points, Yuki Ide had 13 points and Zen Endo added 12 points for the Lions of coach Masahiro Fujita.
TUP finished in sixth place with 1-4 record.