MANILA – Kai Sotto had limited production as a starter but Adelaide 36ers still rolled to their fourth straight win in the National Basketball League with an 87-84 escape over Brisbane Bullets on Thursday night in Australia.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino center started for the fourth straight game for the streaking 36ers but finished with just five points, on 2-of-4 shooting, to go with four rebounds and one block in 12 minutes.
This was the fourth straight game that the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets center started Adelaide head coach CJ Bruton and all of the outcome were wins so far.
The presence of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team mainstay was quickly felt by Adelaide as he delivered two early conversions in the first three minutes of the contest.
Robert Franks top-scored for the 36ers with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Antonius Cleveland chipped in 13 markers, nine rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
Anthony Drmic also made a difference with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds as the 36ers continued to move up in the standings with a 10-8 win-loss record for fifth place.
The 36ers were comfortably ahead at 84-77 with 28 seconds in the game but the Bullets threatened to within 84-85 on a three-pointer by Andrew White III and two free throws by Tanner Krebs.
Franks, however, gave the 36ers the much needed breathing room with three seconds left with his two free throws. Brisbane still had a chance to force an extension but Tyler Johnson missed his triple try.
Nathan Sobey scored a game-high 24 points for Brisbane, Krebs contributed 13 markers, White and Johnson chipped in 12 points apiece, while former NBA big man Aaron Baynes had a double-double 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Sotto and the 36ers will look to finish the year on a winning note and stretch their winning streak further when they take on Cairns Taipans at five in the afternoon on New Year’s Eve./PN
