Top Taiwan players get recognition from league

With the crowning of the Yulon Dinos as the new champions in sweeping fashion, the 2003 Super Basketball League season came to a successful conclusion on Sunday.

Besides the coveted championship ring that will be awarded to each member of the Dinos squad for their team achievement, winners in individual categories have also be recognized.

Dacin Tigers standout Tien Lei (田壘) capped a stellar season by being named the league's Most Valuable Player.

The 20-year-old sophomore from the National Taiwan Normal University served as the anchor for a team that had the speed and explosiveness to match anyone in the league. He played the Dinos right down the wire in two three-point losses during regular-season action.

Tien was the league's only double-double man after averaging 22 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest over the 24-game season. He would often carry his team single-handedly with his deadly outside shooting and patented low post moves. Tien also led the league in rebounds, averaging 11.6 per game, and in steals, averaging 2.58 per game -- a rare combination for a big man who has quick hand and feet, plus exceptional instinct for the ball.

In addition to leading the league in total rebounds and steals, the 202cm Tiger icon also came in a close second in total blocked shots per game with 2.4 and in total points per game with 22 -- highlighting a great all-around game that made him a nightmare for opposing coaches and players.

"I'm thrilled to come away with these two trophies," Tien said at an award ceremony that took place prior to Game 2 of the championship series. "I would like to thank all my teammates for making this possible."

Beating out Tien for the scoring title was Taiwan Beer's Lin "the Monster" Chih-jeh (林志傑), whose scoring average of 24.5 points per game accounted for nearly a third of the Beer men's total offense. If only the brewmasters had a supporting cast to compliment Lin's phenomenal scoring threat, the Taiwan Beer season might have gone a lot further.

Another Taiwan Beer standout, Chen Shih-nian (陳世念), lead the assist category by averaging 5.5 assists per game. And Dinos shot-blocking expert, Tseng Wen-ding (曾文鼎), was recognized for rejecting an average of 2.5 scoring attempts per game.

The league presented the winners in each category with a trophy and a check for NT$10,000.