| Fadhil Yunus |
YTE booked their place in the final of the YOU-C 1000 Basketball Cup after ending the journey of tournament rivals Easyway 85-70 in the last-four at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.
Easyway suffered a setback before the match even started after missing the services of their foreign import Chris Charles who picked up an injury during the preliminary round.
The Group ‘A’ winners set the tempo after opening a 10-point gap before Terrell Carter withstood the pressure by Zainul Hussin to provide a clinical finish.
Easyway were heavily focused on YTE’s foreign import Udun Osakue’s every move leaving Lim Aik Hock an open invitation for a clear shot.
Osakue then returned to terrorise the Easyway defence after skipping for a two-point play.
Easyway’s Zainul Hussin reduced the deficit to eight points with a three-pointer but YTE swiftly replied with Carter powering his way into the painted area for an emphatic slam dunk.
But the Group ‘B’ runners-up fought back with Marcus Quirk advancing his way into the paint as the lead declined by six points and he followed it up with a three-pointer.
YTE gained some distance again just when they looked to be a shot or two away from playing catch-up as the E Requintin dropped a three pointer to shoulder some of the responsibilities away from the foreign imports.
Hussin trimmed the lead to just five points at the start of the third quarter but Osakue knocked down a couple of points to gain a seven-point cushion.
Marcus Quirk made it a tighter affair and the closest Easyway had been after their deficit withered to just three points but YTE stepped up firstly through Carter before Osakue dropped a three-pointer.
It turned into a stretch despite Easyway’s Lyndon Gudez’s excellent pass from defence with Quirk connecting as YTE’s lead grew to 12 points inspired by the form of Osakue.
The fourth quarter demonstrated fine individual plays by Carter who executed a fine finish into the net before being credited with an assist through a wonderful pass to Lim who did the rest.
The Easyway defence found it difficult to contain Carter’s strength highlighted by the player’s relentless pursuit into the paint and coupled with his quick touches.
The winner between Teo & Sons and Fu Zhou Shiyyi Association in the second semi-final tonight will join them.