Southerners stay unbeaten

Sports

By HENRY MORABANG
SOUTHERN Flames kept their winning record intact over archrival Emperador with a 95-81 triumph in the 2017 PMBL 2K Challenge at Taurama Aquatic Indoor Complex last Sunday.
The win proved Emperador’s pre-season win was on aberration as the Moi Muri-coached team came on to beat the Eddie Salazar-coached team in the first round. And they maintained their supremacy again in the second round.
Coach Muri was happy with his team’s performance, saying he wanted to maintain the top spot to win their second title this season.
“We came prepared for this game. It was a good win as we are the only club that trains four days a week, to maintain our top spot in the PNG’s only semi-professional basketball competition,” Muri said.
“I know we are going to win because the body language shown by Emperador was not good which put us in the lead with four points.”
Muri said Emperador were the top side but as much as they wanted to win, Flames played by the book to come out winners.
In the opening match, Chariots picked up their second win over Saints by a basket, 82-80, while the Tamaraws had the last laugh in their hotly contested game against the Saints 80-70.
Standings: Flames 16, Emperador 12, Tamaraws 8, Saints 6, Chariots 4 and West Jokers 2.