Light Cup: I-Shou U downs UP Maroons

KAOHSIUNG CITY—Host team I-Shou University downed University of the Philippines, 75-70, Thursday in the 2014 Buddha Light Cup University basketball tournament at Kaohsiung Arena.

Pivotman Wu Yi Pin scored the go-ahead basket inside and Ko Min Hao and Shi Yeng Chong sealed the win for the local squad by sinking their free throws in the dying seconds.

The Maroons were still in command going into the final minute after Henry Asilum dribbled the length of the floor and dropped in a floater, but Dave Moralde’s weak pass on a fastbreak got picked after Wu made it 71-70.

Mikee Reyes, overwhelmed by a clump of towering defenders, then failed to launch a desperation three as time expired.

“We had the chance to take it, but the breaks were not with us,” said UP head coach Rey Madrid.

Shi, a 6-foot-4 high-flyer who recently got an invite from the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, pegged the final count with two free throws, 4.2 seconds to go.

Reyes fired 14 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth, including three three-pointers.

Moralde had 12 points, power forward Christopher Angelo Vito added 10 and Mark Juruena had six points and 13 rebounds for the Maroons, who trailed in the opening quarter  before picking up the pace in the final half.

“We’ve learned things that could help us in our buildup for the UAAP,” said Madrid, whose Maroons will play four more games against college squads from China, Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei.

The scores:

I-SHOU 75—Wen 18, Ko 17, Wu 12, Chen 11, Lu 9, Shi 7, Gong 3.

UP 70—Reyes 23, Moralde 12, Vito 10, Asilum 8, Juruena 6, Lao 5, Gallarza 3, Gingerich 3, Dario 0, Harris 0.

Quarters: 14-9, 28-25, 50-43, 75-70