South Korean squad ETLand unloaded a barrage of three-point shots in the fourth quarter to deal NLEX a 75-60 beating in the second day of the 2018 Asia League Summer Super 8 on Wednesday here at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
Kim Nak Hyeon started off ETLand's hot-shooting from beyond the arc after opening the final quarter with a triple. ETLand forward Kim Sang Kyu then joined the fray after sinking three straight triples as the Elephants broke the game wide-open with a 75-52 bubble heading to the last four minutes of the match.
NLEX failed to get its offense going after shooting just 36.9 percent in the game, while failing to rotate quick on its perimeter defense.
ETLand, which grabbed solo leadership in Group A with its second straight win, virtually assured itself of a spot in the crossover semifinals set to start this Saturday. The Elephants opened the tournament with an 81-67 rout of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
As for the Road Warriors (1-1), they will have to beat the Flying Tigers on Thursday to make it to the semis. NLEX's first win came at the expense of Formosa Dreamers, 92-64.
The Elephants shot better from three-point land, 15-of-36 from a 41.7 percent clip, compared to its overall field goal of just 36.8 percent.
Park Sun-Jing led the Elephants with 14 points, while Kim Nak-Hyeon and Jeong Hyo-Geun added 11 apiece. Park Bong Jin finished with a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards for the Elephants.
Mac Tallo was the only player to score in double figures for NLEX with 13 points, to go with five rebounds and three assists. - Richard Dy
The Scores:
ETLAND 75 - Park SJ 14, Jeong HG 11, Kim NH 11, Park BJ 10, Jung 9, Hong 8, Kim SK 6, Kim JN 3, Jeong BK 2, Lim 1, Choi 0.
NLEX 60 - Tallo 13, Quinahan 9, Rios 9, Marcelo 8, Soyud 8, Miranda 6, Ighalo 3, Monfort 2, Tiongson 2,Baguio 0, Taulava 0, Uyloan 0.
Quarters: 18-16, 32-30, 57-47, 75-60.