Coming off the most lopsided loss in the season, G.T. Explorers re-grouped and scored a season-high 26 points. Still, SAMURAI is too much for them to handle.

SAMURAI took a 38-26 win over the struggling Explorers, dropped them to 0-4 and on brink to missing the playoffs. SAMURAI improved to 3-2 and will face Dream Team in the two teams’ final game on May 18 to decide the final standing.

SAMURAI scored the game’s first two points before Ivan Choi tied it. Ivan Choi did not miss his second field goal and tied the game again at four. Chris Poon split a pair of free throw for a lead, a first one for the Explorers this season.

After Roy Kwok hit another one at the charity stripe to tie the game again, Chi Chiu Au answered and took a 8-6 entering the second period.

Mark Au made both free throws and extended the lead for SAMURAI to 14-9. Aston Lie swished a turn around jumper to cut it back to 11-14, before Chi On Lau hit a foul shot and Patrick Lai made a basket for a six-point cushion at the break.

Van Law made his first field goal in the second half and put the team to only a three-point deficit at 14-17. Chi Chiu Au calmly made both foul shots and took back a five-point lead. Chris Poon scored two and cut the lead to three again at 16-19, but the Explorers never get closer from there on.

Before Kelvin Lui also made two free throws, Jackie Lai hit two and Eric Leung added a trey for an 8-point lead, and Ka Ming Wan’s free throw concluded a 8-2 run to finish the third period.

Van Law made the team’s final goal for a five-point deficit at 26-31. Ka Ming Wan went on to scored three more points and Mark Au made another two baskets and set the result at 38-26.

After totaled 24 points and 19 boards in the last two games, Van Law came off the bench and scored four and three boards. Ivan Choi had eight points and seven boards, the most he got since he joined the league. Kelvin Lui fouled out after he scored two points and one rebound.

All but one SAMURAI did not score.

G.T. Explorers still have chance to playoffs if they win Wild Beasts and Wild Beasts lost to GRIZZ.