Paints run into

After Saturday’s dramatic 65-62 loss to the Emperors in the second game of the Angkor Beer Cambodian Basketball League playoffs semifinals, Davies Paints stormed home to a 87-71 win on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena to wrap up the series 2-1 and advance to meet Pate 310 in the championship round. The title match of the CBL’s second season between Davies Paints and Pate is slated for 2pm on Saturday, while the Emperors and Mekong Tigers play off at 9:30am for third place. As was to be expected, the semis decider was a tense affair, but Paints got the first run on Emperors with a 21-14 opening quarter and stretched it to an impressive 51-34 at half time with Janno Cunanan proving a thorn in the Emperors’ side. Bun Vanna’s good work from behind the arc was the only good happening for the Emperors as they desperately went in search of an effective plan to deal with Cunanan. By the end of the third quarter, the Emperors had to deal with double trouble – the mounting Paints lead and one of their key players Kim Vengngoun picking up his fourth foul.