Back-to-back near-triple-double performances by Chen Chih-chung earned him the nod from members of the Basketball Writers’ Association as he won the coveted Super Basketball League (SBL) Player of the Week award for this week by a unanimous decision.
The veteran point man for the Yulon Luxgens, who averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists in a pair of wins last week, was the main reason the three-time champions were able to continue their recent success and win seven straight games since dropping four in a row for the first time in the team’s history back in January.
“I am truly grateful to my coach for keeping me in the game long enough to help our team win,” Chen said after learning of his selection for the weekly award.
He was given a lot more playing time in last week’s games, as fellow guard Lee Hsueh-lin was out nursing an injury.
Chen’s selection for the weekly honor also ended a four-week streak in which the honor had gone to a foreign player, restoring some much-needed faith and confidence in the local players as the foreign imports have become the focal point of each team.
Chen and the rest of his Luxgen teammates will have the chance to extend their winning streak to nine this weekend, starting with tomorrow’s contest against Taiwan Beer, before Sunday’s showdown against the Taiwan Mobile Leopards.
It will be a tough fight for the Luxgens in both games as the Brew Crew gear up with revenge on their minds, while the Leopards look to regain some respect with a win over the second-placed team.
Yulon escaped with a pair of single-point wins against Taiwan Beer and the Leopards in their last meetings and both teams are expected to give the Luxgens a run for their money this time around.
“It will be hard for us, since they [the Beer and Leopards] both suffered close defeats the last time we played them,” Yulon coach Chang Hsueh-lei said in a recent interview.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and