HK and RI to meet at ABC c'ship

JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong's Regal will play Indonesia's Aspac in the quarterfinals of the 8th Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) championship after beating the Philippines' Tanduay Gold yesterday.

Regal, led by 205-centimeter John Spencer, dominated Tanduay Gold and wrapped up the match 81-79.

The win took Regal to the top of Group A and it has not lost a game in the qualifying round.

Regal is in the same group as Malaysia's Petronas, Uzbekistan's MHSK, Indonesia's Aspac and the Philippines' Tanduay Gold.

Aspac cruised to the quarterfinals by beating Tanduay Gold and Uzbekistan's MHSK in the qualifying rounds.

Aspac beat Tanduay Gold 75-63 and MHSK 72-63, but lost to Petronas 66-71 on the first day of the championship.

In another match yesterday, Izuzu Motors beat Tong Whye 96-65.

Four matches will be played today: Japan's Izuzu Motor versus China's PLA Hong San, Iran's Zob Ahan against Tong Whye, Regal against Aspac and Petronas versus Tanduay Gold.

Four winning teams will play in the semifinals July 24. (03)