Yang Tseh-yi’s clutch free-throw with just 1.5 seconds remaining in the game broke a 70-70 tie as the Yulon Luxgens defeated the Dacin Tigers 71-70 in Game 6 of the Championship Finals last night to claim their fourth league title in seven years.
The highly anticipated showdown lived up to its billing in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 3,000-plus at the Taipei County Gymnasium in Sinjhuang as the Luxgens led it by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter only to blow the lead in the final minute with the Tigers forcing a 70-70 tie before winning in dramatic fashion on Yang’s free-throw.
Twenty-three combined points by backcourt tandem Lee Hsueh-lin and Chen Chih-chung helped Yulon claim a 33-24 lead at the half, with the former netting a dozen and the latter pouring in 11.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Even though top Luxgen center Tseng Wen-ding fouled out at the 6:05 mark in the third quarter on a controversial call by the referee to reduce his team’s offensive potential, his replacement, Wu Chih-wei, rose to the occasion by scoring 14 points off the bench in the second half to surprise the Tigers.
Wu’s second-half surge proved critical for the Luxgens, as it kept several of the Tiger rallies short while wearing down the clock to make good on the win.
Failure to convert their free throws ultimately cost the Tigers the win and the title as they converted a measly 15 of 32 from behind the charity stripe (46.9 percent) on the night, well short of their season average of 70.6 percent to lose this one in disheartening manner.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen was named the series Most Valuable Player for his uncanny display of leadership on both ends of the floor throughout the six-game series. It was the 33-year-old point man’s fourth title and first Championship Series MVP selection.
“I would like to dedicate this [title] to coach Chien for his selfless contribution to the team, may he rest in peace,” Chen said after the game, referring to Yulon coach Chien Yi-fei, who passed away in 2007 after guiding the team to three straight titles from 2004 to 2006.
The win by the Luxgens also proved that they could win the title without the help of any foreign players as they opted to go without any imported help after losing Chen Hsin-an to China’s CBA.
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