Keita Suzuki found an opening from the right side and heaved the winning two-pointer, sending the world no. 19 ranked Tokyo Dime to a 22-20, triumph over the 1Bataan Risers yesterday at the SM Megamall Activity Center.
The victory, which came after the Risers squandered a five-point lead, handed the Dime the 2019 Chooks-to-Go 3X3 Asia Pacific Super Quest crown.
Suzuki slipped past the defense and tossed in a long volley in the last 33 seconds after getting a pass from Masahiro Komatsu.
The champions of this level eight FIBA 3X3-endorsed tourney went home with US$ 20,000, a ticket to the 2019 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters Doha, and a seat to the Challengers in Penang on May 12 to 13.
“Very, very tough game. Our players had to play for every point. And that very important,” said team skipper Tomoyo Ochiai.
As champions of this level 8 FIBA 3X3-endorsed tourney, the Japanese squad went home with US$ 20,000, a ticket to the 2019 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Masters Doha, and a seat to the Challengers in Penang on May 12 to 13.
Ochiai, along with Peter Perunovic led the Dime with six points, while Alvin Pasaol powered the Risers with seven points.
The Dime swept their two-game assignment in Pool B before they prevailed over New Zealand, 22-9, in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, the Dime got past the Pasig Grindhouse Kings, 16-11, to earn a finals slot against the Risers, who outplayed the Jakarta West Bandits, 21-18.
The Risers enjoyed an 18-13 edge in the last 2:34 off Santi Santillan’s two charities.
That’s when the Dime picked up the pace, with Perunovic leading the attack from the inside.
Perunovic’s drive, and Suzuki’s charity then saw the Japanese side tying the count at 20-all in the last 51.9 seconds.
Santillan then bungled a two-pointer in the remaining 25 seconds as he tried to save the day for the Risers.
As the runners-up the Risers settled for the US$ 15,000 second prize cash award, and they still grabbed a seat to Doha cagefest as well.
Earlier, Pasaol carried the 1Bataan Risers to a 21-18 over the Jakarta West Bandits with a 2-pointer in the final second, and grab a slot to the finals.
The Scores:
Tokyo Dime 22—Ochiai 6, Perunovic 6, Komatsu 5, Suzuki 5,
1Bataan 20—Pasaol 7, Franklin 5, Santillan 5, Dehesa 3.