Overcoming third-quarter deficits as large as a dozen, the Yulon Luxgens outfought top-ranked Pure Youth Construction in an 84-83 thriller to take Game 4 of their SBL semi-final series at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium in Tianmu last night.
The win put the four-time champions on even terms with the defending champs in the best-of-seven affair.
Leading the way for the victorious Luxgens was Lu Cheng-rue, who nailed the go-ahead three with 51 seconds remaining to turn an 81-82 deficit into an 84-82 lead.
BLOCK
That was not Lu’s last contribution, as he rushed back on defense in the closing seconds after the Builders had reduced the deficit to a lone point and timed his jump perfectly to block what would have been the game-winning basket by Pure Youth’s Tsai Wen-cheng to seal the deal for Yulon.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that your teammates are behind you 100 percent and have total confidence in you,” an excited Lu said after the game.
BACK TO LIFE
The final three-pointer capped his brilliant 6-for-9 shooting from behind the three-point arc on a game-high 19-point effort to bring the Luxgens back to life after they had suffered a disheartening 69-67 defeat on Sunday in a game they could have easily won.
Trailing by two after Lu’s go-ahead three, Pure Youth had a chance to tie the game with 35 seconds remaining on a pair of free throw attempts by James Mao, but the normally surehanded swingman missed one of them as he failed to take a golden opportunity to tie the game.
The two teams will have a day off today before gearing up for tomorrow’s Game 5 in Tianmu.
In yesterday’s second SBL semi-final the Leopards downed the Tigers 88-76.
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