MBA All Stars whip South Koreans, bounce back in Jones Cup

TAIPEI - The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) All Stars of the Philippines rediscovered their winning form and kept their flickering championship dreams alive in the 25th Chunghwa Telecom William Jones Cup Friday evening at the Taepei Physical Education College Gymnasium with a 97-92 whipping of last year’s runner-up South Korea Military.

With their backs against the wall, the Filipinos finally unloaded their offensive might, pulling off the win without team leader Alexander Compton, who sustained an ankle injury in the previous game against host and defending champion Chinese-Taipei NT Wednesday.

Edgar Echavez , the smallest man of the Philippine roster, stood the tallest as he scattered 22 points via his long shots and patented drives. Echavez towed five other players with 10 or more markers.

Big men Romel Adducul of the Osaka Pangasinan Waves and Jeffrey Flowers of the Gilbey’s Olongapo Volunteers played their best game thus far in the tournament with 10 and 12 points, respectively. Both players are marked men owing to their good track record in international competitions. Also hitting twin digits were Kalani Ferreria of the Waves (12), John Billy Mamaril of the Professional Davao Eagles (11) and Bruce Dacia of Gems (10).

With the win, the Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop-sponsored Filipinos improved to a 2-2 win-loss card in the eight-team standings. The Koreans, frequent participants in tournaments in the Philippines, dropped to 1-4 and hogged the cellar.