With the help of a record-breaking performance by Quincy Davis, Pure Youth Construction roughed up the Yulon Luxgens with a strong fourth quarter to run away with an 88-81 victory in Game 2 of their SBL semi-final series at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium in Tianmu last night.
The big man out of New Orleans’ Tulane University, whose basketball path has taken him to four different continents, erupted for a record 28 rebounds to go with his game-high 22 points in one of the most memorable performances in post-season history.
His inside presence could not have come at a more crucial time than the decisive fourth, where he came up big on four different occasions with three put-back baskets off the offensive glass and a clutch offensive rebound that sealed the Luxgens’ fate in the closing seconds.
“I just kept on working hard and crashing the board hard to give our team a chance to win,” Davis said after the game.
He did not know about his rebounds record until after the game.
The win not only leveled the best-of-seven series at one win apiece, but also restored some much-needed confidence for the defending champs after their stunning defeat against Yulon in the opener the night before, which ended with a brawl between the two squads.
As on Saturday, the Builders came out firing, with point-man Chen Shih-jeh downing nine quick points to help give his team a 22-19 lead after the first quarter of play.
However, the Luxgens came back strong thanks to the stellar play of second-year man Chou Bo-chen in a sound second quarter to leave the score at 37-all at the half.
The teams traded leads smaller than five for most part of a third quarter that ended with a buzzer-beating two by Tsai Wen-cheng to give the Builders a slim 57-56 advantage.
That was as close as the Luxgens came as Pure Youth skidded ahead, with Davis dominating the inside of the paint by virtue of 10 points and nine boards to propel his team to victory.
TIGERS 68, LEOPARDS 65
The Dacin Tigers made it two victories in a row against the Taiwan Mobile Cloud Leopards in Tianmu last night to take a 2-0 advantage in their best-of-seven semi-final series.
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