The third day of The Terrific 12 basketball tournament held by Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government and Asia league has concluded, bringing the group stage to a close. The Zhejiang Lions have fallen to the semi-finals-bound Nagoya Diamond Dolphins. With Xinjiang and Shandong both eliminated after their losses yesterday, now only the Guangzhou Long-Lions remain to represent the CBA in the semi-finals. The semi-finals will begin at 5:00pm on Saturday, September 22, with Nagoya Diamond Dolphins vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings in a Japanese civil war. At 7:00pm the Guangzhou Long-Lions will face off against the Seoul Samsung Thunders, a repeat of the 2018 Summer Super 8 championship match-up.
Details of today’s matches are as follows:
The Nagoya Diamond Dolphins faced off against the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions to open up the 3rd and final day of the group stage for The Terrific 12 tournament. This was a win or go home game as the winner will be the last team to advance to the semi-finals. It was close throughout the first two quarters but the Diamond Dolphins started gaining momentum towards the end of the second quarter, pushing the lead to double digits with a little more than 3 minutes remaining – 40 to 30. However, the Guangsha Lions put up a run of their own to keep it close, ending the half trailing 45 to 41. The Nagoya Diamond Dolphins controlled the second half led by newcomer Markeith Cummings who caught fire and dominated from inside and out as he finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. Contributions from Li Jinglong who scored a team high 24 points and 10 rebounds were not enough to help the Lions get back in the game as they fell to the Diamond Dolphins 79 to 71. Quarter Scores, NDD-ZGL: 22-21, 45-41, 67-56, 79-71
Hyundai Mobis Phoebus matched up with the Chiba Jets in each team's last game at The Terrific 12 tournament at the Studio City Event Center in Macao. Both teams came out of the gate firing, keeping it close in the first with the Jets taking the lead to close out the quarter, 28-27. The Chiba Jets went on a run of their own led by Josh Duncan who finished the game with a double-double – 15 Points and 15 rebounds as they closed the half leading 48-42. Mobis Phoebus got back in the game in the third when star player Ra Gunah began to dominate. He finished the game with 19 points, 14 boards, and 3 blocks. However, the Chiba Jets closed the quarter strong and were able to hold onto their 64-62 lead heading into the final quarter. It was a close battle in the fourth, with both teams trading clutch buckets trying to take control of the game. Ultimately the performance of Shannon Shorter pushed his team over the hump as he finished the game scoring 17 points and Mobis Phoebus closed the game out to win 77 to 71. Quarter Scores, UMP-CHI: 27-28, 42-48, 62-64, 77-71.
The iECO Green Warriors and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers faced off for their last game in the group stages at The Terrific 12, with each team looking to finish on a high note. Both were without key players—Xinjiang's Al Jefferson was not cleared to play due to a dental procedure, while the Green Warriors captain, Richard Howell, suffered a leg injury during the previous game. He was replaced by former NBA D-League player Tiras Wade.
It was a competitive first quarter as both teams started out hot and hitting shots to close out the first quarter all tied up at 27 apiece. The Flying Tigers pushed with their fast-paced transition offense and went on a number of runs in the second and third quarter led by Abudushalamu Abudurexiti, who played for the Golden State Warriors summer league team this past offseason. He finished the game with a double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds which helped put the Flying Tigers up 87-78 after three quarters. The Green Warriors kept battling back, keeping the score close and within striking distance. They ultimately took the lead on a put back basket by Wade with 5 minutes remaining. They fought to hold onto their lead until Wang Zirui hit a big three to put the Flying Tigers back up again 102-101 with 1:59 left in the final quarter. Darius Adams came up big in the fourth and was just too much for the Green Warriors, finishing with a tournament high 45 points adding 8 boards and 8 assists. The Flying Tigers closed out and defeated the Green Warriors with a final score of 107 to 103. Quarter Scores, XFT-PBA: 27-27, 61-54, 87-78, 107-103
The Shandong Xiwang and the Fubon Braves headlined the final match-up of the group stage of The Terrific 12 Tournament. The Shandong Xiwang controlled the pace of the game from the start, led by Andrew Goudelock doing damage from the inside and beyond the arc and led by as much as 14 points in the first half. The Fubon Braves battled back in the third, led by the one-two punch of Shaquille Keith and Daniel Orton, but remained behind going into the fourth quarter. The Shandong Xiwang closed the third quarter out strong, leading 70 to 56. The Fubon duo pressed on and made a push in the fourth, leading the Braves to a 16 to 2 run – tying the game 72-all with 4:20 remaining and finally taking the lead with a basket from Orton with 3 minutes left. Orton finished with an impressive double-double scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. It was an exchange of baskets from that point on but Keith made sure that it was going to be his night. He finished with an unbelievable line scoring 32 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. He went coast to coast on the final play of the game scoring a lay-up in transition seal the victory for the Braves 82-79. Quarter Scores, SXW-FUB: 20-8, 45-34, 70-56, 79-82
