Hsu Hao-cheng's clutch three-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining helped Taiwan Beer top the Videoland Hunters 102-99 in overtime at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak for the brew crew.
The loss eliminated the Hunters from postseason play in Taiwan's Super Basketball League for the first time in three years, with the Bank of Taiwan taking the fourth-and-final spot in the four-team playoffs.
"It wasn't even supposed to go into overtime, had I held on to the ball," Hunters power forward Lee Chi-yi said after the game, referring to his mishandling of a key defensive rebound that gave Taiwan Beer the chance to force the game into overtime in the final seconds of regulation.
Turnovers ultimately cost the Hunters the game as they coughed up the ball seven more times (16-to-9 margin) than Taiwan Beer.
The game started with both clubs relying heavily on perimeter shooting, with four 3-pointers from each team to close out the first quarter with Taiwan Beer leading 25-24.
The brew crew took a 47-44 lead into the third quarter after a hard fought first half behind eight tough points by lead scorer Lin "The Beast" Chih-jeh.
Down by six with their starting point guard Chen Hui in foul trouble at the start of the fourth quarter, the Hunters reverted to Yang Tseh-yi's penetration to the middle and veteran center Huang Chuen-hsiung's low-post game to claim an 84-81 lead with under two minutes to play.
But Lee's miscue in securing a key defensive rebound that would have sealed the game, and a subsequent shooting foul on Taiwan Beer's Wu Chih-yuan on the ensuing possession, put some punch back into the brewers.
Bank of Taiwan 100, Antelopes 93
Knowing they had already gotten into the postseason with a Hunters loss earlier on Sunday, the bankers appeared flat during the first half against the ETTV Antelopes.
It took 18 second-half points (32 for the game), including 10 in the game's decisive fourth quarter from guard Jien Ming-fu to overcome the deficit.
Chu Yong-hong played his best game of the season by draining 10 of 12 from close range for a season-high 27 points. The power forward also snagged five rebounds.
Hsin Jin-chan's desperation 3-point shot from three-quarters of the floor away brought the Antelopes to a 68-all tie at the end of the third quarter, highlighted by a resilient Antelopes effort.
"It was a great all-around game for us," Antelopes coach Lee Yun-shiang said.
NBA
Tayshaun Prince scored all of his 17 points in the second half to lead six double-digit scorers for the Detroit Pistons in a 98-73 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA on Sunday.
Detroit (62-15) is a victory away from matching its franchise record for wins and barring a late slide, will likely finish with the NBA's best record. The Pistons already have home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs and are 35-3 at The Palace.
Indiana has lost seven of eight to fall a season-worst four-games under .500 and is in danger of not making the playoffs after starting the season as a title contender.
Detroit's Lindsey Hunter (14), Tony Delk (11) and Antonio McDyess (10) provided a scoring boost off the bench. Richard Hamilton scored 12 and Chauncey Billups had 11 points and five assists scoring. Ben Wallace had a season-high 22 rebounds.
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