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Dinos sweep to second title

The Dinos celebrate after defeating the Tigers 92-84 on Sunday to clinch Taiwan's Super Basketball League championship after sweeping the best-of-five-game series 3-0 for the second consecutive year. PHOTO: SBL

Chen "Airman" Hsin-an's three-point play the old fashion way (a two-point basket with a foul) and his no-look pass that led to another easy score by Tseng Wen-ding late in the game powered the Yulon Dinos past the Dacin Tigers in a 92-84 victory on Sunday to clinch Taiwan's Super Basketball League (SBL) title.

Blue ribbons flying off the spectator stands immediately covered a good part of the floor at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium as the Dinos bench stormed the court to celebrate their second straight championship in another 3-0 sweep in the best-of-five-game series.

In addition to the championship trophy, the Dinos will receive NT$1 million in prize money as well as a ring for each member of the team.

The Dinos won all five of their postseason games, extending their postseason winning streak to nine in a row (including last season).

Even with all-star Chen Hsin-an playing in the American Basketball Association for the first five months of the SBL season, the Dinos were able to prevail.

"It was truly a remarkable year for us," Dinos coach Lee Yun-huan said after the gamed. "Despite a slow start because of [Chen] Hsin-an's absence, we were able to adjust quickly and work through all adversities for the repeat. It was a great effort all around for the entire organization."

The game began with Dinos sinking everything under the sun in a thunderous 24-18 first quarter that featured three three-pointers by guard Lee Hsueh-lin.

The Tigers answered by tying the game at 37-37 midway through the second quarter behind an outstanding effort by rookie forward Chen Tzu-wei.

Chen Hsin-an gave the Dinos the lead for good with three three-pointers to close out the half at 46-43.

Neither team managed to take advantage of their opponents' mistakes in an error-filled third quarter, but the Tigers used a 9-2 run early in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to two points.

With the momentum seemingly swinging the Tigers' way, Chen Hsin-an sparked some late-game magic, boosting the Dinos' cushion back to double-digits with under a minute to play in the game.

"Hats off to the Dinos," Tigers coach Liu Jia-fa said. "They clearly played their best basketball when it mattered the most. That's something our guys will have to learn before we can become a championship-caliber team."

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