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Lai Guo-hung, center, of the Hunters, scores from the low post with two Tigers defenders looking on during their SBL playoff game at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium on Wednesday. The Hunters overcame the Tigers 102-99. PHOTO: SBL

Exceptional low post play, coupled with sound free throw shooting late in the game, carried the Videoland Hunters past the Dacin Tigers in a thrilling 102-99 victory at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium on Thursday.

Game one in the best-of-three series between the second and third-seeded teams in round one action of the Super Basketball League playoffs was won by the Hunters after they had lost three in a row to close out the regular season on a down note.

Lai Guo-hung and Lee Chi-yi, the Hunters' frontcourt tandem that many have challenged for not realizing their potential during the regular season, erupted for 51 of the Hunters' 102 points to silence all critics.

Lee Chih-yi's outstanding 14-for-15 shooting from the charity stripe, en route to a 22-point night, complemented Lai's game-high 29 points and eight rebounds nicely as the Hunters fought off a relentless rally by the Tigers in the fourth quarter for the win.

The game began with both squads executing their respective game plan to perfection in a high-scoring first half.

The Hunters exploited the Tigers' weak interior defense by pounding the ball inside in a controlled, half-court offense, while the Tigers took advantage of their youth and quickness by penetrating the paint effectively and forcing over 20 turnovers by the Hunters for the game.

A 31-18 scoring run in favor of the Hunters would break open the 50-50 halftime tie in the third quarter and give the Hunters a double-digit cushion heading into the final quarter.

Though the Tigers then went on a scoring binge of their own in the fourth quarter to reduce the deficit to as small as five points, the Hunters made sure they would not let this one slip by hitting six of the final eight free throws to hold on for the win.

"We knew going into the game that they would try to hurt us down below, but I never expected Lai and Lee to have the kind of game they had," Tigers head coach Liu Jia-fa said after the game.

His club wasted a spectacular performance by team icon Tien Lei, whose career-best, 47-point effort was not enough to lead the Tigers to victory.

Four different players scored in double figures for the Hunters in a balanced attack while the Tigers relied on Tien and shooting guard Chang Chih-fong's 23 points to account for the bulk of their offensive production.

Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor and Sixth Man award winner Ben Gordon were unanimous choices for the NBA All-Rookie team announced on Thursday.

Charlotte center Okafor, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, and Chicago guard Gordon led all rookies in scoring with 15.1 points per game. Orlando's Dwight Howard joined Okafor and Gordon as unanimous selections with 58 points in balloting by the league's head coaches.

Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala (56) and Chicago's Luol Deng (33) also made the team.

Okafor led all rookies in rebounding (10.9) and minutes played (35.6).

Howard, the top pick in the draft, ranked in the top five in six statistical categories.
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