Defending champions the Kaohsiung Aquas followed up their 120-90 win over the Taichung Suns on Saturday with a 130-109 victory on Sunday against the Taoyuan Leopards to move to the top of the T1 League.
The Aquas, winner of the T1 League’s inaugural 2021-2022 season, now lead the six-team standings with a 5-2 record after their two wins at the Kaohsiung Arena.
On Sunday, the Aquas powered ahead with a 40-25 lead at the end of the first quarter, with the Leopards trailing 66-49 by the end of the first half.
Photo: Mandy Nien, Taipei Times
With a comfortable cushion already established, the Aquas remained in control for the rest of the game.
Aquas shooting guard Chiu Tzu-hsuan led his team with 31 points, shooting 11-16 from the floor, including 4-7 from beyond the arc and 5-5 from the stripe.
Aquas point guard Jason Brickman contributed a double-double of 20 points and 13 assists, while teammate Mindaugas Kupsas, who plays center, posted 22 points and 19 rebounds.
Although the Aquas won, Leopards small forward Troy Williams led all scorers with 37 points.
“We don’t really think about ladder positions, we don’t think about that at all. We think about just playing who we got to play, and this weekend was about an opportunity to get two at home,” Aquas head coach Brendan Joyce said at a post-game news conference.
In the T1 League’s other Sunday matchup, the Taipei-based Taiwan Beer Herobears outhustled the visiting Tainan TSG GhostHawks 112-108 at the University of Taipei’s Tianmu campus gym.
Herobears forward Cleanthony Early ran riot over the GhostHawks’ defense, scoring 56 points, five rebounds and seven dimes, while GhostHawks center Samuel Deguara answered with 28 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.
In the P.League+, the Kaohsiung Steelers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 115-95 win over visiting New Taipei Kings at the Kaohsiung Fengshan Stadium.
Steelers forward Terrence Jones led all scorers with 33 points, while Kings center Byron Mullens led his team with 26 points.
The Kings are at the top of the six-team P. League+ standings with a 5-2 record, while the 1-6 Steelers are at the bottom.
In the weekend’s other P.League+ matchup, the Taoyuan Pilots defeated the Hsinchu JKO Lioneers 94-80 on the road at the Hsinchu County Stadium.
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