Dragons are back

KUALA LUMPUR: With both Brian Williams (pic) and Tiras Wade healthy and back, the Westports Dragons (8-9) looked like they did earlier this season as they defeated the Saigon Heat (6-10) 95-75.

Wade led the Dragons with 25 points. He also added 11 rebounds and five assists.

Williams also had a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Patrick Cabahug was on fire in the first half and ended up with 17 points for the game. Guganeswaran Batumalai dished out a game and season high nine assists.

Patrick started out hot for the Dragons in the first quarter, scoring eight out of 11 of the Dragons’ first points. After two technical free throws by Brian Williams, the Dragons led by 12 points. Patrick led all-scorers with 11 points in the first quarter. Williams scored eight points while Jones scored a team high seven points for the Heat. The Dragons were up 25-14 at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, Jahmar Thorpe hit a three-pointer to cut the Dragons lead to eight points. The Dragons continued their hot shooting.

Satyaseelan Kuppusamy hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to push the Dragons’ lead up to 19 with the score 59-40. Patrick led all-scorers at the half with 17 points. Wade added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Jones led the Heat with 16 points and Jahmar Thorpe added 12 points with three three-pointers coming in the second quarter.

In the second half, the Heat brought it back to a 10-point game when they started pressing the Dragons in the full court. The Dragons went on a 7-0 run, four coming from Chris Pacana to stop the Heat’s momentum.

Wade also added 10 points in the final quarter as the Dragons defeated the Heat 95-75.