Final Four action in the University Basketball Association tournament on Monday evening saw Fu Jen Catholic University edge past Chinese Culture University in a 64-63 thriller and National Taiwan Normal University cruise past Mingdao University 87-60 at Chinese Culture University.
Hosts Chinese Culture led Fu Jen for most of the way, with a trio of SBL standouts — Wu Jien-long (Pure Youth Constructions), Lu Cheng-rue (Yulon Luxgens) and Wu Fong-cheng (Luxgens) — leading the attack.
However, the visitors had the last laugh, rallying from as many as 11 down in the third quarter to turn the once Chinese Culture-dominated match into a seesaw affair in the fourth.
After Wu’s clutch basket gave Chinese Culture a 61-60 lead with under two minutes remaining, Fu Jen answered with a pair of free throws apiece from Chou Tzu-hua (Taiwan Beer) and Lin Wei-han to go up 64-61 with 12 seconds left.
Chinese Culture had a chance to tie the game on its final possession, but Wu decided to take the ball strong to the hoop for two at the 4.1-second mark instead of going for the potential game-tying three thinking that Chinese Culture still had time to stop the clock one more time.
That was not the case as Fu Jen quickly advanced the ensuing inbound pass up the court to deny Chinese Culture the opportunity for a foul, running down the clock to win.
“I told our players to go for the three if they [Fu Jen] make both free throws, but we simply failed to execute that plan,” a disappointed Chinese Culture skipper Lee Ching-chi said after the game.
NTNU 87, MINGDAO 60
National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) easily topped Changhua’s Mingdao in the other semi-final earlier on Monday.
The win not only avenged an upset loss at the hands of Mingdao for the defending champs in last week’s Elite Eight play, but also earned them the ticket into the title game for the second straight year.
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