Bank of Taiwan were eliminated from SBL post-season contention after a one-point loss to Kinmen Kaoliang at the Banciao Stadium in New Taipei City last night.
The Bankers’ big Canadian center Liam McMorrow put up an attempted buzzer-beater when trailing by one at the end of the game, but his field goal careened around the rim and fell outside of the basket, leaving his side down 92-91.
Both teams fought a close battle most of the way, with the score level at 42-42 at halftime.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
It was the last match for the Bankers, who finished with seven wins and 22 losses for the season, last among the seven teams.
The playoffs are to start next month without them.
US starting forward Eugene Phelps of Kinmen Kaoliang led the way with a double-double performance, netting 25 points to go along with 14 rebounds.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
With the victory, the Kinmen club will end the regular season in sixth place, despite having a game to play.
Their final regular-season game is today against the Yulon Dinos at 5pm, while leaders the Dacin Tigers face the Fubon Braves at 7pm. Both games are in Banciao.
Bankers manager Hsu Chih-tsao said the loss epitomized how the season had gone for them, with strong efforts to start, plenty of missed opportunities and being behind at the end.
“There were many games we should have won, but we were not able to do so,” Hsu said.
“It was a season that could have had better results,” he said.
“That last shot summed it up. It could have gone in, but didn’t. It missed by a narrow margin,” Hsu said.
In the late game, Pauian Archiland dominated the final quarter to take a 66-56 vctory over Taiwan Beer.
Big center Qunicy Davis was the key to Pauian’s win, with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Pauian maintained their place in fifth with a 14-16 record, while the Brew Crew were tied for second, having the same 18-11 record as the Yulon Dinos. The Dacin Tigers are first with a 20-9 record.
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
RSS