TAIPEI—Imports Zach Graham and Dewarick Spencer hit crucial three-pointers down the stretch to tow Philippines-Mighty Sports to a hard-earned 89-81 win over host Chinese Taipei-A on Sunday night at Sinjhuang Gymnasium.
Graham, a former Air21 import in the PBA, and Spencer, a high-scoring guard in the Korean Basketball League, kept the rallying Taiwanese at bay with a dagger of a shot each to steer PH-Mighty Sports to the win.
Spencer topscored with 26 points for the slow-starting Manila-based squad, which trailed by 16 points, 26-10, in the first period.
But once Spencer and Graham were inserted into the game, PH-Mighty Sports raised its game a notch and caught up with Taiwan’s first team.
The Philippine side outscored the Taiwanese, 26-10, in the se-cond period to take a 40-37 advantage at the half.
PH-Mighty Sports takes on South Korea next on Monday with the Koreans aching to atone for a stunning 74-73 loss to an Egyptian side (The games are telecast on Aksyon TV).
The scores:
MIGHTY SPORTS 89—Spencer 27, Gillenwater 19, N’Diaye 13, Graham 12, Singletary 7, Thirnton 5, Maclin 6, Brickman 0, Teng 0, Salvacion 0, Avenido 0.
TAIWAN-A 81—Liu 25, Chou 21, Davis 11, Yang 11, Chen 5, Lee 2, Chou 1, Creighton 0.
Quarters: 13-27, 40-37, 65-50, 89-81