HONG KONG - The Southern California Fukienese Association (SCFA) of the US put a final exclamation point on its campaign here by beating China's Xin Cheng Holdings basketball team, 93-78, at the 18th 3-D Gold Super Kung Sheung Cup held at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai.
The Los Angeles-based SCFA, a team composed mostly of former collegiate players in the US, beat all of its opponents in the tournament by double-digit margins, including host Hong Kong by 30 points, 88-58.
Its only close game was against the Philippines, represented here by Ateneo de Manila and Adamson University, which almost pulled off an upset against the Americans in the semi-final round before succumbing, 91-85.
Xin Cheng Holdings, representing China's Fujian province, earned its championship berth by beating Hong Kong, 72-59, in its own semi-final duel, but could not get its shooting game going against the highly physical Americans.
SCFA stood head and shoulders above the competition here in terms of heft, athleticism and experience. Its frontline paraded a legit 7-footer in David Erickson, 6'9 Robert Curtis, 6'7 Jerome Moton and 6'7, 260-lb 'Baby Shaq' Tarron Williams (200-F-76, college: Cal.St.-San Bernar.).
The Hong Kong National Team, the defending champions, settled for third place by beating the Philippine 'Blue Birds', 61-45. The Filipinos, composed of collegiate players who are having their first taste of international hoops, looked drained from last night's tightly fought game with the Americans, but nonetheless gave a good account for themselves in the tournament with their passionate brand of basketball.
- Ryan Asis Maniago
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