By Brown Msyani
Gilbert Batungi notched 15 points to guide ABC to a convincing 70-40 victory over Mgulani in a thrilling Regional Basketball League match held at the National Indoor Stadium yesterday.
The ABC star was simply phenomenal and posed a constant threat to Mgulani shot blockers.
The winners started the game with real intent of killing off the game early on, but until the end of the first half, they had a slim 26-20 lead.
Mgulani, who fought relentlessly to close the point gap in the first two quarters, run out of steam to allow ABC add 44 more points.
Looking tired, Mgulani managed to score 20 points only in the final quarters, making them walk off the court heads down after the final whistle.
Batungi emerged the top scorer for the winners followed by his marauding teammate Frank Augustino with 14 points.
Mgulani's tireless pointer Joas Maheta buried 16 points that, however, were not enough to save his team from an embarrassing defeat.
Christians Jacob teamed up well with Maheta, but his efforts earned him nine points only.
In another match, holders JKT played brilliantly to post a 105-33 point victory over Cargo at the same venue.
JKT, who lost 67-64 to Oilers last weekend, bounced back in style to register the highest score since the season started.
Captained by Frank Simkoko, JKT were leading 51-18 until the end of the first half.They went on to score 21 more points in the third quarter restricting clueless Cargo to four points.
The fourth quarter proved too harsh to Cargo after scoring 11 points unlike 33 notched by rampant JKT.
JKT playmakers Francis Mlewa and Mkumbo Mgendi scored 19 and 18 points respectively.
Tanzania Prisons defeated newly-promoted Tanblacks 56-47 in a closely fought encounter held at the same venue late on Saturday.