REYNALD MAGALLON

Korean League champion Anyang Jung Kwan proved to be too much for TNT, pushing the Philippine representative on brink of elimination with a 105-97 decision in the East Asia Super League on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Anyang Gymnasium in South Korea.

Not even the stellar performances from the trio of Quincy Miller, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Calvin Oftana could save the Tropang Giga from absorbing its fourth-straight defeat in the regional tournament. 

The Red Boosters banked on a balanced attack with six players scoring in double-digits to keep the home team’s head above the water against a fiery showing from the Filipinos.

Seongwon Choi led the way for Anyang with 24 points while Daryl Monroe flirted with a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Anyang’s Filipino import Rhenz Abando finished with 13 points, three assists and two rebounds.

Miller continued to spearhead the attack for the Tropang Giga with 35 points and nine rebounds while Hollis-Jefferson chipped in 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

Oftana also added 25 points to provide the local support in the absence of star guard Jayson Castro but was not enough as TNT trailed for the majority of the contest no thanks to a strong first half display from the home team.

With the win Anyang joined the idle Chiba as the unbeaten teams in Group A. The Red Boosters improved to a 2-0 record just behind the 3-0 Jets.