Chi Chiu Au’s 18 cannot save SAMURAI and the season.

With the season on the line, SAMURAI probably had played the best game of the season. Unfortunately, they were still one step short and lost — its 5th straight — to the defending champion. Dream Team took a 47-42 victory over SAMURAI and improved to 3-2, and with the loss by Photons later in the same evening, confirmed a third place in FORCE Division even they cannot win their next game on May 17.

In the beginning of the 4th period, a 7-2 spurt by Dream Team extended the three-point lead to a 44-38 cushion. Down by eight, with less than five minutes in the game, SAMURAI’s season is on the brink.

Chiu hit a jumper, followed by two points from Eric Ngai, SAMURAI pulled within 40-44. Dream Team missed in the ensuing possession, William Wong grabbed a miss by teammates for an easy two under the rim to mae it a two-point game at 42-44.

Ka King Wan was fouled, he hit the first but missed the next free throw and SAMURAI grabbed the rebound. Dream Team lead 45-42, while SAMURAI was still seeing a narrow chance to tie.

Sueng Lung Chin tapped the ball away from Kelvin Ng when the SAMURAI guard has just moved to the front court. The steal resulted in a fast-break two, and sealed the game with a five point lead with less than half a minute to play.

The game was close throughout the first half, with five ties and two lead changes.

Chun Hong Tsoi hit a three for a 18-12 lead midway through the second period. The six point lead is the biggest in first half. Otherwise neither team could get away for more than two points.

Kelvin Ng and Chi Chi Au hit back-to-back three-point shot and William scored two points to tie it at 20-all. The game was tied at 22-all at the break.

Eric Leung socred his first points in three games to take a lead before Dream Team took it back by a 6-0 run. He hit a three-pointer to cut it at 29-32. Only Dream Team went on to extend the lead at 37-31 entering the final period.

Ka King Wan scored eight of his eleven points in the third period. Seung Lung Chin also had 11 points, he added also four assists and steals apiece with also three rebounds. Man Chung Chow had a team-high 14 points on 6-14 shooting.

Chi Chiu Au scored 18 points inclyding both free throws and two three-point shots. He had 5 turnovers. The team had 29 turnovers in previous game but only 13 this evening. William made all four shots from the field but missed both free throws. SAMURAI was only 2-4 at the line, where Dream Team shot 5-for-12.

Kelvin Ng had nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Eric Ngai scored only two points against his former team. The forward-centre finished with one field goal by eleven attempts but added nine boards, four blocked shots, three steals and an assist.

Before they lost five straight this season, SAMURAI had never lost more than two games in a row and only had two two-game losing streaks.