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Local pro hoops action begins

Lu Cheng-rue of the Dinos scores in Thursday's preseason opener against the YMY. PHOTO: SBL

Preseason action in the Super Basketball League (SBL) began on Thursday at the Taipei College of Physical Education Gymnasium, with the defending champs the Yulon Dinos downing YMY (formerly the Sina Lions) in a 96-82 decision.

The Dinos wasted no time in showing their archrivals why they were still the team to beat around the league by taking a quick 25-10 first-quarter lead, behind the eight points from second-year newcomer Lu Cheng-rue in a game that they never trailed.

While the Dinos relied on a mediocre perimeter game during a low-scoring second quarter (15 points), YMY managed to pound the ball inside frequently with muscleman Liu Yi-shiang's low-post plays, resulting in a 20-point quarter that helped to reduce the deficit to 10 points at the half.

YMY carried their first-half momentum well into the second half by playing a high-scoring third quarter against the Dinos (26 points apiece for the quarter), and even came within five points of the defending champs with two long three-pointers from shooting guard Hong Chih-shan mid-way through the fourth quarter.

But that was as close as they would get as the Dinos suddenly shifted into another gear defensively by playing a ball-denying style of man-to-man defense that held their opponents to six points the rest of the way.

Offensively for the Dinos, sharp shooter Chou Shih-yuan led the way with a game-high, 21-point effort to go along with his four rebounds, four assists, and three steals for the night.

He was joined by Lu (18 points five rebounds and two assists), backcourt mate Lee Hsueh-lin (12 points, four rebounds and three assists), and All-Star center Tseng Wen-ding (11 points, seven rebounds and an impressive five assists) to complete a foursome of Dinos that reached the double-digit scoring plateau.
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