The P.League+ on Friday announced New Taipei Kings forward Yang Chin-min as this season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), while on the court, the Taipei Fubon Braves put themselves on the brink of the championship title in their finals series against the Hsinchu Jko Lioneers.
Yang led all local players with a scoring average of 21.2 points in the 29 games he played during the regular season, including an explosive outing of 39 points on March 13 in an away game at Fengshan Stadium in Kaohsiung against the Steelers.
Known for his shooting in clutch situations, Yang has taken on the role of go-to man in the fourth quarter, draining crucial buckets for his team.
A household name in the Taiwan basketball scene, Yang has an extensive resume from playing in the Super Basketball League, the ASEAN Basketball League and on Taiwan’s national team.
However, his team were ousted in their first-round post-season series, losing 3-2 to the Lioneers, whose center Singh Bhullar was named Import Player of the Year.
The 2.26m Canadian professional basketball player topped the regular-season points and rebounds leaderboards with an average 26.3 points and 20.8 rebounds per game, the league said in a statement.
Out of the 27 games he played in the regular season, he recorded at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in eight, including an away game on April 17 against the New Taipei Kings at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in which Bhullar posted a Herculean double-double of 50 points and 32 rebounds.
He was named April’s MVP for his prolific performance that month that led the Lioneers to the top of the six-team table with a 6-1 record.
Bhullar’s explosive play in the paint makes him difficult to guard, while his performances give confidence to the rest of the team, the P.League+ said last month.
However, Bhullar’s Lioneers were trounced in Game 4 of the best-of-seven P.League+ finals at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium yesterday, with the Braves winning 128-110.
Bhullar was the top performer for his side once again, scoring 24 points and pulling down 18 rebounds.
For the Braves, Texas-born Mike Singletary scored 24 points and had 17 rebounds as they went ahead 3-1 in the series.
Game 5 is to be played at the Hsinchu County Gymnasium tomorrow. If they are needed, Game 6 is scheduled for Wednesday in Taipei and Game 7 is to be played in Hsinchu on Friday.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care