Alex Choi (PHO #24) may be late to the game, and may be late to save the game too. Despite a season-best 25 points, Alex and Photons lost to Trojans 48-56 in the second round on Sunday.

With just five players dressed to start the game, the under-manned Photons could only have two points after Trojans already in double figures, and then fell behind 2-17 when Jerry Lee (TRO #5) made his second trey of the game.

After another two from Jerry, Sunny Wong (TRO#33) scored the period’s final basket which put Trojans up 21-4, a hole that looked almost impossible to overcome.

Harris Wong (PHO #24), another late-to-game player for the orange team, could not leave the sports centre with a victory on his birthday. The Photons forward hit from deep when his team was still down 9-23, but Trojans scored the game’s next 5 points for a 19-point advantage, the biggest in the game.

Just the green team cooled down a bit from there, and Photons put up six more points before halt-time and was down 28-15 at the break.

And then Alex’s burst come.

After a three-pointer followed by another lay-up, Alex helped to cut the lead to single digit before Mike Mak (TRO #6) responded with a three-pointer re-gain a 31-20 lead.

Trojans could not find a way to stop Alex or Harris, when the duo combined for all points for Photons in the third period.

Following two straight baskets, Alex used a three-point play to cut the deficit to 27-33 and he scored another basket after two free throws from Harris and turned the game into a two-point deficit only.

Alex started the final period by completing another three-point play, as Photons took a lead for the first time in the game, but was again quickly answered as Mike hit for two as Trojans lead again at 36-35.

The orange scorer was still “in the zone”, and his three-pointer tied the game at 41-all in the middle of the 4th. However, there were not plenty of help else where while Siu Lung Cheung either protect his own glass or grab offensive rebounds for second chance, and Trojans prevented Photons from rally.

Only three other players ever reached the 25-point mark before in this League.

Photons missed Semi-Final for a third straight year after making it twice in the first two seasons since the team joined the League.

It was the first game Siu Lung Chung played this season.

Mike’s hot hands gave him a 8-for-11 shooting and a personal best 18 points, the Trojans guard-forward also added seven boards and four assists.