Overcoming a double-digit deficit in the second half, Pure Youth Construction rallied for 23 points in the fourth quarter to edge past the Yulon Luxgens 84-83 at the Taipei Arena last night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven semi-final series.
Doug Creighton’s clutch three-pointer with 1.6 second remaining in the game turned a two-point deficit into a one-point lead to help the Builders, who trailed for most the game, steal one from the four-time champs.
“I’d like to thank the coaches and my teammates for believing in me, especially [Chen] Hsin-an for getting the ball to me in a hurry,” Creighton said after the game.
The winner of this year’s annual Three-point Shootout over the All-Star weekend more than proved himself as the league’s premier long-range threat.
“We really proved the saying ‘never say never’ because we really believed in ourselves,” Pure Youth skipper Hsu Jin-tseh said after the game.
His troops are now one win from advancing into their first-ever Championship Finals appearance.
The Luxgens came out firing by opening the game with a 10-1 run. They would maintain an eight-point lead at the half before allowing the Builders back in the game in the second half.
It took a put-back basket by Kevin Johnson off a teammate’s miss to put the Luxgens ahead 83-81 with 5.8 seconds remaining in the game.
However, the Luxgens might have celebrated a bit too early as they allowed the Builders to quickly advance the ball up the court to set up Creighton’s game-winner.
Yesterday’s other SBL playoff semi-final result:
‧ Taiwan Beer 81, Tigers 70
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