Pure Youth Construction took advantage of a 30-point third quarter to break a 35-35 tie at halftime wide open, humbling the Yulon Luxgens 81-67 at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City last night to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series.
Chen “Airman” Hsin-an erupted for an even dozen against his former team to account for a good portion of the Builders’ 30 points in the third that gave them a commanding 65-49 lead, a lead they would widen to as many as 23 points in the fourth, before settling for the eventual 14-point victory.
“[Chen] really played like the leader we wanted him to be for us,” Pure Youth skipper Hsu Jin-tseh said after the game about his prized off-season acquisition, whose leadership had been considered the missing factor in the Builders’ quest for their first-ever league title.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Chen delivered just that as he took matters into his own hands by rolling off 10 straight points in the third to champion an offensive tidal wave that totally demolished the Luxgens.
Also starring for Pure Youth was center Quincy Davis, who redeemed himself after a subpar performance in Game 2 on Sunday with a dominant display inside the paint that resulted in 17 points and 16 rebounds for the American.
The teams do battle again in an all-important Game 4 tomorrow.
Yesterday’s other SBL playoff semi-final result:
‧ Tigers 79, Taiwan Beer 78
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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