DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Ulaanbaatar Xac wasted no time announcing their arrival by way of an 84-67 victory over Zhejiang Guangsha to open BCL Asia 2025, Saturday at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall.
The reigning BCL Asia-East champions showed poise in the fourth quarter, collecting enough steam for the breakaway toward writing history anew - not only for the team but for all of Mongolia as well.
Also the 2024-25 The League winners, the Broncos have given the country their first-ever win in Asia's most prestigious club competition erstwhile known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
"Firstly, we praise the Lord. We have been working hard over the past eight months, that's why our players deserve this win," said head coach Ariunbold Erdene. "We appreciate all the players and the staff."
Ian Miller top-scored for Ulaanbaatar Xac with 30 points on 52.9-percent shooting as the BCL Asia-East MVP helped his side overcome a slow start before facilitating the late-game assault for the finish.
The seasoned guard scored 16 of his points in the first half, 10 of which he made during the first quarter as he powered their 15-2 run to overhaul a six-point deficit and turn it to a 17-10 lead for themselves.
And come crunch time, Miller, as usual, upped the ante. He knocked down a key triple before dishing an assist to Ikhbayar Chuluunbaatar as he powered a 7-0 run to make it a 66-54 count with 4:57 left.
It would be all Broncos since, with veteran big man Jordan Tolbert helping the aforementioned tandem in putting together the strong closeout against the Lions toward seizing the early lead in Group A.
Chuluunbaatar was the only other double-digit scorer for Ulaanbaatar Xac with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting but the others contributed significantly, with Jordy Tshimanga finishing with 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Barsbold Baatar Erdene supplied 9 points as well alongside 4 rebounds and 4 assists, while athletic winger Azbayar Altangerel also flirted with a double-double as he chalked up 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Up next for them are the 2025 FIBA WASL runners-up Tabiat on Monday, June 9, at 15:00 local time in the curtain-raiser of the Group Phase's last day - a day which could be crucial for the Quarter-Final race.
James Nunally, on the other hand, made 22 points and 5 rebounds to lead Zhejiang Guangsha. Xu Junwei provided 15 points while Nathan Knight added 13 points and 7 rebounds as the three starters carried the load.
The Lions are also facing Tabiat on Sunday, June 8, at 15:00 local time in a must-win situation for the 2024-25 Chinese Basketball Association champions to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
FIBA
