MIGHTY Sports-Go for Gold Philippines moved two wins shy of ruling the 41st William Jones Cup after crushing Indonesia, 94-66, Friday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Eugene Phelps had 19 points and nine rebounds as Mighty remained perfect after six games going into the final two days of the annual competition against two teams from the host country.
The Charles Tiu-coached squad must beat Taiwan-A (4-1) on Saturday evening and Taiwan-B the following day to duplicate its feat three years ago.
As things stand now, the Mighty-GFG cagers can win the crown with a win over the Taiwanese having beating the Koreans (5-1) and Japanese (4-1).
Renaldo Balkman scored 17 points, Joseph Yeo scored 14 points in nearly nine minutes while Fil-American Mackenzie Moore tallied eight points, five rebounds and nine assists.
Phelps, set to return for Phoenix Pulse in the PBA Governors’ Cup in September, scored nine in the first quarter as Mighty led 27-13 to set the tone for the lopsided result.
Mighty pounced on Indonesia in the third quarter, going on a 15-0 run behind Balkman and Fil-Ams Mikey Williams, Jeremiah Gray and Moore, whose breakaway dunk made it 65-35 with three minutes left in the period.
Juan Laurent Kokodiputra scored 21 points but Indonesia dropped to a tie for seventh with Taiwan-B at 1-5. (JONAS TERRADO)
MIGHTY SPORTS 94 — Phelps 19, Balkman 17, Yeo 14, Moore 8, Black 8, Gray 7, Williams 6, Ndiaye 6, Wongchuking 5, Banal 4, Adams 0, Brickman 0.
INDONESIA 66 — Kokodiputra 21, Muhammad 11, Gemilang 7, Sanjaya 7, Joni 6, Hartanto 4, Wijaya 2, Wicaksono 2, Putra Teja 2, Priasmoro 2, Hadran Noor 2, Hidayat 0.
Quarters: 27-13; 45-30; 71-48; 94-66.