Chinese Taipei B's pesky play didn't make it easy, but Mighty Sports-Go for Gold Philippines pulled through in the fourth quarter to score an 81-71 win on the final day of the 2019 William Jones Cup on Sunday at the Xinzhuang Gym in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
The Philippine delegation finished with a spotless 8-0 record for their second sweep in a championship run since 2016, but they had to do it against an opposition that looked to impress the home crowd on their way out.
Unable to shake off its foes for most of the game, Mighty rallied behind Eugene Phelps and McKenzie Moore to turn a slim 59-57 lead into a 10-point lead midway through the final quarter. It was all Mighty from there as the hosts failed to muster enough momentum in the endgame to score an upset.
Phelps anchored the Philippines once more by posting a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Moore contributed 16 points, five assists and four steals.
Joseph Yeo also turned back the clock once more to provide 11 straight points for Mighty in a tight second quarter battle against Chinese Taipei B.
Yung Cheng Wu led the home side with 15 points and four rebounds, while Kuei Yu Chou and Kuan Chun Lin tallied 10 points apiece. The team ended its run with a 2-6 card.
THE SCORES
Mighty Sports (81) - Phelps 24, Moore 16, Yeo 11, Williams 7, Ndiaye 7, Adams 6, Brickman 4, Gray 2, Black 2, Wongchuking Jr. 2,
Chinese Taipei B (71) - Wu Y. 15, Lin K. 10, Wu C. 9, Chou 10, Lin T. 8, Tseng 7, Chen 6, Hsieh 2, Sun 2, Huang 2, Lai 0, Su 0.
Quarters: 15-16, 40-32, 59-55, 81-71.
EXTRA DRIBBLES
- Mighty Sports played the last game without Renaldo Balkman, who sustained a bloody nose late in the third quarter of the team's win against Chinese Taipei A on Saturday.
- It is the Philippines' sixth title and ninth podium finish since the tournament first instituted in 1977.