Nearly squandering a 19-point, third-quarter lead, top-seeded Pure Youth Construction held off a late-game rally by the fifth-seeded Fubon Braves and went on to defeat their foes 86-76 at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City last night to take Game 5 of their semi-final series.
Doug Creighton played the best game of the post-season thus far by connecting for four three’s on a team-high 22-point night to lead the four-time defending champions to a crucial victory that gave them a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
“We kept our composure when we needed to the most,” Creighton said after the game, referring to a six-minute stretch in the fourth in which the Braves outscored the Builders 15-5 to pull within five before a clutch two by Creighton with less than three minutes remaining to make it a three-possession game in favor of the Builders.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
Fresh off a disappointing overtime loss to the Braves on Thursday night in a game they should have won, Pure Youth opened contest with a 7-0 run to set the tone early.
However, the Braves answered with an 8-0 run, courtesy of seven straight from big man Earl Barron to take a 19-18 lead after one quarter of play.
Four three’s by the Builders, coupled with nine costly turnovers on the part of the Braves quickly separated the two clubs in the second quarter to give Pure Youth a 42-33 advantage at the half.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
That set up an even stronger offensive effort by the Builders in the third, when Creighton lit up the scoreboard with 13 points to account for nearly half of his team’s 28 to expand their lead to 17.
Fubon reduced the deficit to less than 10 points with “The Barron” netting nine of his team’s next 11 and eventually came to within five with Joseph Lin and Wu Yung-jen hitting from the perimeter.
However, that was as close as they got as the Builders regained their poise to keep it a seven-point game and made their free-throws down the stretch to secure the win.
TAIWAN BEER 84, TIGERS 63
In the other semi-final series in New Taipei City, second-seeded Taiwan Beer earned their second straight trip to the finals by topping the third-seeded Dacin Tigers in Game 5 to take the best-of-seven set 4-1.
Hired gun Patrick O’Bryant came up big in the series clincher by pouring in a game-high 30 points and claiming 15 rebounds for the men in their familiar green-and-white to send the Cats packing.
Also starring was sophomore point guard Chiang Yu-an, who took the Dacin backcourt to school with several nifty drives to the hoop to get the job done for skipper Yen Chia-hua.
“We cut down on the turnovers and played good defense like the coach had asked of us and that was the difference,” Chiang said.
The Brew Crew await the winners of the other series in the title series, which is to begin on Saturday next week.
US President Donald Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, is poised to make her LPGA Tour debut after receiving a sponsor invitation on Tuesday to the Nov. 13 to 16 tournament at Pelican Golf Club in Florida. “My dream has been to compete with the best in the world on the LPGA Tour,” Kai Trump said in a statement posted on the LPGA’s Web site. “This event will be an incredible experience,” she said. “I look forward [to] meeting and competing against so many of my heroes and mentors in golf as I make my LPGA Tour debut.” The 18-year-old high-school senior,
REACTION: Less than 24 hours after a 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays’ win ensured that the best-of-seven series is to head back to Toronto for Game 6 tomorrow Vladimir Guerrero Jr on Tuesday blasted a two-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays bounced back to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 and tie the MLB World Series at two games apiece. Less than 24 hours after a shattering 18-inning Game 3 loss, the Blue Jays climbed off the canvas to breathe new life into their hopes of a first MLB title in 32 years. Guerrero’s two-run blast off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani and a superb pitching performance from ace Shane Bieber laid the foundations for a gutsy victory that silenced Dodger Stadium. “I’m always trying to compete
Jemimah Rodrigues on Thursday hit an unbeaten 127 as India pulled off a record chase of 339 against Australia to set up a Women’s World Cup final against South Africa. Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hit 89, put on 167 runs for the third wicket as India won with nine balls and five wickets to spare at DY Patil Stadium, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The hosts finished on a total of 341-5 in reply to Australia’s impressive 338 and ensured there would be a new name on the 50-over trophy tomorrow. Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary to trigger wild celebrations
Jannik Sinner on Thursday eased past Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 at the Paris Masters to set up a quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton, while reigning champion Alexander Zverev earned a straight-sets win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round. A maiden crown in the French capital would return Sinner to No. 1 in the world rankings after current incumbent Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock early exit at the hands of Britain’s Cameron Norrie. The Italian four-time Grand Slam champion is yet to drop a set in the tournament as he hones in on what would be a fifth title of the
RSS