BCL Asia: Johor Southern Tigers Fall to Hi-Tech Again
Hi-Tech Basketball Club completed a clean sweep of their group-stage meetings against Johor Southern Tigers in the Basketball Champions League Asia-East 2026, grinding out a hard-fought 94-84 victory at a packed Nimibutr Stadium, Bangkok.
As has been the case throughout this season’s rivalry, drama was never far away. Johor edged the opening quarter 25-23, looking poised to finally break their losing streak against the Thai side. But the momentum shifted dramatically in the second quarter.
Hi-Tech erupted with a devastating 21-2 scoring run, opening up the biggest lead ever recorded between the two teams across their three meetings this season.
Led by the scoring punch of Accheaus Fields, who finished with a game-high 19 points, the home side suddenly looked in complete control.
True to their character, the Malaysian champions refused to fold. Johor responded with an impressive 11-0 run, clawing back into the contest before halftime and carrying that momentum into the third quarter.
Their persistence paid off as they stormed back to briefly take a 63-62 lead, threatening to turn the contest on its head.
For a moment, it looked as though Johor’s comeback could finally produce a breakthrough result against their regional rivals.
But the pendulum swung back once again. Hi-Tech responded with composure, regaining control through disciplined half-court execution and capitalising on key Johor errors down the stretch.
This time, unlike their narrow escapes in previous meetings—an overtime win in Tangerang and a razor-thin victory in Johor—the Thai champions closed the game out with authority.
The 94-84 result handed Hi-Tech their third win in six group-stage matches, with all three victories coming against the same opponent.
The win secured Hi-Tech second place in Group A behind Indonesia’s Dewa United Banten, sending the Thai champions into the Final 6 as a Group B participant.
Johor, despite the defeat, advances to the Final 6 and will enter Group A alongside Dewa United—a side they have already beaten twice this season—and the second-placed finisher from Group B.
Credit Photo : STBT
