Dose of SK medicine

CEBU, Philippines — Roles were reversed in the EASL Final Four showdown for the $1 million first prize as the Chiba Jets of Japan delivered a deadly dose of defensive medicine on the league’s No. 1 stopper Seoul SK Knights in fashioning a 72-69 win at the Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu City, here Sunday night.

Known more for its offense than defense, Chiba turned the tables on Seoul in a low-scoring, grind-out affair that held the Knights to 36.6 percent from the field. EASL’s leading scorer Jameel Warney, averaging 37 points, was held to 22 mainly by the Jets’ naturalized player Ira Brown. Chiba coach John Patrick reoriented the Jets’ gameplan to focus on containing Warney and made a key adjustment in Xavier Cooks bringing down the ball to avoid the physicality of clashing with the Knights’ hefty imports. Warney and teammate Leon Williams weigh a combined 500 pounds while Cooks and John Mooney, 455. Besides, the trick put 5-7 Yuki Togashi in the wings and with Cooks at the point, the spitfirish guard had the option of lifting to use a series of screens for a clear look.

The danger of Patrick employing a defensive gameplan was he played to Seoul’s style. The Knights stayed tough defensively and forced 14 turnovers on Chiba but down the stretch, no one could match Togashi’s magic. Actually, Togashi had a rough start, hitting 1-of-5 for three points in the first quarter as Jae Hyun Oh and Won Hyuk Choi took turns shadowing him. Patrick sat Togashi down to settle him when he couldn’t find the mark then brought him back to score seven points in the second frame. As if following a movie script, Togashi saved his best for last, scattering 10 of his 22 points in the final period. He was the hands-down choice as MVP.

Seoul had a chance to knock down a three to force OT but Warney threw up a prayer with Brown all over him. There were 17 lead changes and five ties in the contest where Chiba led 75 percent of the way. What made it easier for Chiba to win was the Jets’ commitment to share the ball, finishing with 20 assists to Seoul’s 12. Togashi had seven dishes and Mooney, six. The Knights badly missed injured star quarterback Kim Sun Hyung who could’ve been a match for Togashi.

In the playoff for third, the New Taipei Kings blew a chance to score with time running out and Anyang Jung Kwan Jang held on to win, 78-76. Joseph Lin cut towards the basket and the ball bounced off his thigh, resulting in a turnover that settled the issue. Without Jeremy Lin who’s down with plantar fasciitis, the Kings battled fiercely for the $250,000 third prize. Kenny Manigault shot 18 to lead the charge while teammates Austin Daye and Chin Min Yang fired 15 apiece. Hayden Blankley came off the bench to chip in 12. Despite the balanced offense, New Taipei fell short as the Red Boosters dominated the boards, 45-34 and compiled more points from turnovers, 11-4 and second chance points, 11-6.

Anyang’s Ji Hoon Park exploded for 29 points, shooting 70.6 percent from the floor while Robert Carter shot 18 and Jamil Wilson and Hyo Geun Jeong 11 each. The Red Boosters spoiled the heroics of 40-year-old Yang who comes from the Amis indigenous Austronesian ethic group.

Despite no PBA team in the Final Four, the Hoops Dome was packed to the rafters last Sunday as fans descended on the venue to witness a fireworks display and they weren’t disappointed. It was an amazing climax to EASL’s inaugural home-and-away season, surely a foundation to build on for a bigger and brighter future.