Jakarta, Indonesia – A halftime lead evaporated as the Johor Tigers of Malaysia fell to Dewa United in a 91-79 defeat on Saturday, marking their second consecutive loss in the FIBA Asia Cup East Region qualification tournament. The Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) champions are now 0-2 in Group A play.
Dewa United, the champions of the Indonesian League, overcame a first-half deficit to secure the win in front of their home crowd. Johor Tigers previously suffered a narrow overtime loss to Thailand’s Hi-Tech on Saturday, leaving them searching for their first victory in Group A.
The game, played on March 29th, saw the Johor Tigers initially grab control, leading 30-21 after the first quarter, fueled by a strong performance from import player Lewis. They extended that lead to a seven-point advantage (45-38) by halftime. However, Dewa United mounted a furious comeback in the third quarter, opening with a 13-2 run to take the lead and never relinquished it.
Lewis led all scorers with 29 points, including 13 in the first quarter, but it wasn’t enough to secure the victory. Allen contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds, even as Chen Junhong, known as “Mei Mei,” added 11 points and 8 assists for the Johor Tigers.
The Johor Tigers will now return to Malaysia and look to turn their fortunes around when they host Dewa United on April 16th and Hi-Tech on April 17th at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. These home games represent a crucial opportunity for the team to secure their first wins in the tournament and climb the Group A standings.
The team will be aiming to rediscover the form that saw them crowned champions of the Malaysian Basketball League and hoping to capitalize on home-court advantage to reignite their FIBA Asia Cup East Region qualification campaign.
What do you suppose Johor Tigers need to do to get back on track? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
