The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on Wednesday clinched their first-ever P.League+ title, overcoming the Taipei Fubon Braves in a thrilling seven-game series.
With a season-high online viewership of more than 110,000 and a sellout crowd of 5,900 in attendance, the Pilots edged out the Braves 89-86 at the Taoyuan Arena in a nail-biting finish.
The Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to Pilots star Lu Chun-hsiang, who scored 20 points to tie teammate Alec Brown for the game high.
Photo: CNA
The Pilots’ win made them the third team to win the P.League+ title in the league’s five-year history, following the Braves’ three-peat from 2021 to 2023 and the New Taipei Kings’ triumph last year.
It was also the Pilots’ first professional championship, following runner-up finishes in last year’s finals and the East Asia Super League final in March.
For the 27-year-old Lu, it was the first title of his career.
Photo: CNA
“Now I just want to take a champagne shower,” said Lu, a two-time P.League+ regular-season MVP.
He said he had not expected to win the Finals MVP, because the victory was a collective team effort.
The game remained close throughout, with the margin mostly within single digits.
Photo: CNA
The Braves briefly extended the lead to 10 in the third quarter, but the Pilots overhauled with a 24-13 fourth quarter as Braves center Brandon Walters fouled out and veteran Lin Chih-chieh sustained a wrist injury.
Lin, 42, was injured while attempting to chase down Lu’s fast-break layup with 4 minutes, 40 seconds left.
He fell hard to the floor as Lu made the shot, drew a foul, and shouted from the ground before sinking the free throw to put the Pilots ahead 84-82.
Photo: CNA
Broadcaster Tsai Ching-ching described the moment as a “generational transition scenario,” highlighting the symbolic shift between basketball eras.
That play saw Lin carried off the court and not return afterward.
The Braves later confirmed that Lin underwent successful arthroscopic surgery early yesterday morning at Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery in two months.
After the game, Pilots guard Li Chia-kang shed tears of joy after overcoming a challenging four-year journey that included limited playing time earlier in his career.
Li, who earned four awards — including Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player — this season, thanked team owner Lee Chung-shu for believing in him.
He said he hoped making the All-Defensive First Team would inspire players who may not excel in scoring.
Meanwhile, P.League+ vice chairman Charles Chen made a rare public gesture following the game by encouraging fans to also support the upcoming playoffs of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL), Taiwan’s other pro league, which are to start today.
Lamenting that “Taiwanese society has long been divided,” Chen called basketball a “remedy that could heal the wound” and said he hoped the TPBL could carry forward the momentum generated by the P.League+.
“If we want Taiwanese society to be united, we should start with sports,” he said. “As for other issues — like whether the two leagues should cooperate or even merge — we have the whole summer to talk about that. It’ll take time.”
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
RSS