Published on December 12, 2005

[BASKETBALL] Star-studded Hi-Tech yesterday grabbed their second straight win, beating Bangkok Bank 76-67 in the third leg of the Nation Super League Basketball Tournament at The Mall in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Former national player Chaiwat Muan-daeng of Bangkok Bank scored the first two points of the game but that was only time the bankers got a taste of the lead.

Hi-Tech’s former national team player Songkit Thongpool, the top scorer in the game, produced an inspired performance in the opening quarter to help his team to a 22-14 lead.

Bangkok Bank closed the gap to 30-34 at the halfway point but a number of missed shots allowed Hi-Tech to move away to a 53-46 lead in the third quarter.

Bangkok Bank played more aggressively with coach and player Krit Pairojpeerapaisal, a former national captain, getting in a heated row with current national player Piyapong Piroon.

As time starting running out, Bangkok Bank committed a succession of fouls in the hope they could steal the ball from missed penalty shots and score on three-point attempts.

Ong-art Songpao and national forward Boonchai Ritpanyawong each shot three-pointers to help Bangkok Bang narrow the gap to six points with less than two minutes remaining in the last quarter. But as hard as they tried, the bankers couldn’t effectively break down Hi-Tech’s defensive set-up.

In the other match yesterday, Tiew Pai Ngam, losers to Bangkok Bank on Saturday, continued their winless streak, going down to Provincial Electricity Authority 57-63.

In today’s action, Hi-Tech, this year’s Thai league champions, will face Tiew Pai Ngam while the PEA will take on Bangkok Bank.

In addition, there’ll be a special match between a team of rising young stars and a women’s superstar team.

The matches start at 11am.

The tournament is being staged by the Nation Group and the Basketball Association of Thailand.

Piyarat Setthasiriphaiboon

The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima

Post your comment to this story here