S16 - SBBL - Pekanbaru Jaguars earned Franchise first SBBL Champions, rallied wild to edge Sessioes Doers 97-95 in OT.
Perhaps this is what the Jaguars manager have in mind when they brought in Tommy Kupila and Zhong Xuanwen this season.
Seemed to head to game 3 after Sessioes Doers lead 80-73, they missed half dozens of FTs, enabled Jaguars' Kupila to set up the improbable comeback with a 3 pointer with 4 seconds left in regulation that tied the game at 82-82.
Jaguars controlled the early OT behind Kupila and Xuanwen, got a break as Ricardo Paz were injured. SD trailed at most on the OT, but Phil Hanson tied it at 95-95. With 15 seconds left, Zhong Xuanwen own the ball, run down the clock, and finally drove past Phil Hanson to score the crucial layup with 3 seconds left for 97-95. After Gerardo Tama missed a game tying layup over Huo Xiang Song on next possession, the whole Jaguars players jumped out for the joy to hug their hero, Xuanwen.
Phil Hanson led SD's with 38pts and 13rebs. Combined with Eike Balkhausen 21 pts, 17rebs and 7 assist, they invaded Jaguars defense inside. Ricardo Paz scored only 10 points. Meanwhile the Jaguars were led by Tommy Kupila 34 points although shot 13/35 FG. Huo Xiang Song has 20pts 11reb, Xuanwen and Debrier scored 15 and 13.
The victory were meant emotionally for Huo Xiang Song, who actually were in Gerardo Tama's shoes on last season Final, when he badly bricked the game winning shot to let the Shohoku Backers escaped for the SBBL Champions. This time he redeemed it with a strong Final outing stats and did his job well on defending Gerardo Tama's on the last seconds shot.
"This definitely heals," said HXS on the post-game interview, "after the last seasons failure, I can't just backdown but to motivate myself. Thanks to the seniors Petrus Alexandersson and Seki Skrebo, their support were crucial to drive me to move forward."
And Jaguars also officially will join SLZH to represent Singapore for Buzzer Beater Best game on Season 17.