Jien Ming-fu's uncanny style of play, which rallied Bank of Taiwan to a 100-93 come-from-behind victory over the ETTV Antelopes last Sunday, earned the point guard the Super Basketball League's Player of the Week honor.
The third-year field general for the bankers was 6-for-9 from behind the three-point arc. He also had five assists and three steals en route to a game-high and career-best 32-point night.
It was his two clutch 3-point shots late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win for Bank of Taiwan.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SBL
"We've always wanted to make it [into the postseason] on our own -- without anyone's help," Jien said after learning of his selection to the weekly honor.
Bank of Taiwan coach Wei Chen-ming said after Sunday's game that while making it into the postseason was a great achievement, the team worked to maintain their intensity ahead the playoffs.
Bank of Taiwan will take on the top-seeded Yulon Dinos in first-round playoff action as the defending champions seek an unprecedented "threepeat."
"Even if we lose, we want to give the Dinos their money's worth," Jien said.
Preview
Jien will try to rally the bankers when they face Taiwan Beer tonight in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium.
Both clubs are coming off big a win, with the brewers beating the Hunters by three in overtime before the bankers' triumph over the Antelopes last Sunday.
Both squads are known for their lightening speed and explosive three-point attack.
The two teams are 2-2 against one another this season.
In the evening's second game, the Hunters will battle the Antelopes. These teams are also 2-2 against each other this season, and although both squads failed to reach the playoffs, they will each be seeking to have the best season record against the other.
NBA
Dwight Howard scored 22 points and Jameer Nelson added 19 as the Orlando Magic won their seventh straight game, keeping slim playoff hopes alive with a 92-80 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
Tim Duncan scored 31 points -- and surpassed 8,000 career rebounds with 13 boards -- but it wasn't enough for the Spurs, who are trying to hold off Dallas for the lead in the Southwest Division and best record in the Western Conference.
The Magic (35-44) now are 2 1/2 games behind both Chicago and Philadelphia in the race for the final playoff spot in the East.
Orlando has three games remaining in the regular season, including games against the Bulls and 76ers. Both of those teams have four games left.
Orlando, which has won 11 of 12, led 78-69 entering the fourth quarter. The Spurs went 3-of-16 from the floor in the final quarter.
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili dressed for the game but did not play. Ginobili missed his third straight game with left calf and shin contusions.
Cavaliers 91, Knicks 87
At Cleveland, LeBron James, resting a sprained left ankle for the NBA playoffs, missed his first game this season and could only cheer as his Cleveland teammates rallied for a win over injury-thinned New York.
Larry Hughes scored 26 points with 13 rebounds and Donyell Marshall and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 17 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who were lifeless for 3 1/2 quarters before storming back to win their 10th straight at home.
Nate Robinson, starting in place of Steve Francis (back), scored 32 points and Crawford added 19 and nine assists for New York, which is also without Stephon Marbury, Channing Frye and Quentin Richardson.
Knicks coach Larry Brown became ill and left the bench in the third quarter. A team spokesman said the 65-year-old Brown complained that he wasn't feeling well. Brown was checked out by the Cavs' team doctor and did not return to the sideline.
Assistant Herb Williams ran the club the rest of the way.
Suns 117, Mavericks 104
At Phoenix, Shawn Marion scored 29 points and Phoenix used a barrage of 3-pointers, all but ending Dallas' chances for the best record in the West.
Tim Thomas added 22 points and Raja Bell 21 -- on 8-for-9 shooting -- to hand Dallas its' second road loss in as many nights and seventh defeat in the last 14 games. Boris Diaw scored 16 and Eddie House 13 for the Suns.
The Mavericks trail San Antonio by 1.5 games with two to play in the regular season.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 36 for Dallas.
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Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
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