Ryukyu dismantles Xinjiang, enters Terrific 12 semis

Ryuku Golden Kings vs Xinjiang Flying Tigers during The Asia League’s ‘The Terrific 12’ at Studio City Event Center on 19 September 2018, in Macau, Macau. Photo by Win Chung Jacky Tsui / Power Sport Images for Asia League

MACAU—Ryukyu gave Xinjiang a rude welcome with a 74-59 thumping in its Group C match in the Asia League The Terrific 12 Wednesday at Studio City Events Center here in Macau.

The win propelled the Golden Kings to the semifinals while dashing the hopes of the Flying Tigers and the iECO Green Warriors whose game on Thursday was reduced to a mere formality.

After trailing, 19-18, at the end of the first quarter, the Golden Kings went into overdrive and laid down the law in the second quarter outscoring the Flying Tigers 22-9 for the 40-28 lead heading into the break.

The Golden Kings will still wait for the top seed in Group D as their opponent in the penultimate round.

Xinjiang, though, played without two of its key players in former NBA veteran Al Jefferson and Chinese international Abudushalamu Abudurexiti.

Jefferson just arrived in Macau on Thursday morning but wasn’t able to suit up due to a dental complication as per Xinjiang head coach Brian Warwick Goorjian.

Josh Scott led Ryukyu with 23 points and 14 rebounds while Ryouma Hashimoto and Ryuichi Kishimoto had 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Fan Ziming put up 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Flying Tigers.