Phantoms Silence Bears in Berlin: Singh's Stellar 25 Leads Philadelphia to Road Victory
Singh Ignites Phantoms Past Bears in Pro League Showdown
BERLIN – The Philadelphia Phantoms weathered an early storm and surged in the second half to defeat the Berlin Bears 109-98 at the packed O2 Arena. A sharp-shooting performance led by Maya Singh and crucial defensive stops in the final quarter proved to be the difference-makers as Philadelphia improved their Pro League standing.
The Bears started with energy, fueled by a raucous home crowd, with Kun Zhang and Anya Lindgren connecting on early triples to build a slim lead. However, Philadelphia answered with a balanced attack, and Catalina Vega’s tenacious interior play kept them within striking distance. The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to establish significant separation.
The turning point arrived midway through the third quarter. After a pair of Berlin turnovers, including a steal by Anya Lindgren that led to her own three-pointer, the Phantoms’ offense found its rhythm. Maya Singh, who had been quietly effective, exploded for a series of points, including mid-range jumpers and driving layups. Her ability to create her own shot and draw fouls, coupled with strong support from Zara Sanchez and Aaron Davies, propelled Philadelphia on a decisive 15-4 run.
In the fourth quarter, the Phantoms maintained their composure, weathering Berlin’s attempts to claw back. Despite Berlin’s 48 rebounds, Philadelphia’s efficient free-throw shooting (12-of-14) and fewer turnovers (8) proved critical. “We knew coming into Berlin would be tough,” said Phantoms head coach, “but our team responded to the challenge. Maya was exceptional tonight, but it was truly a total team effort.”
For the Bears, Kun Zhang led the way with 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Anya Lindgren added 14. However, their 32.6% shooting from beyond the arc and 60% free-throw shooting ultimately hampered their efforts.
“We fought hard, but we made too many critical mistakes down the stretch,” commented Bears forward Priya Hassan. “We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Key Notes:
- Maya Singh led all scorers with 25 points for Philadelphia.
- Kun Zhang was Berlin’s leading scorer with 16 points.
- Philadelphia shot 85.7% from the free-throw line compared to Berlin’s 60.0%.
- The Phantoms committed just 8 turnovers, significantly fewer than the Bears’ 12.