Taipei Times
Date: Apr 24, 2016
By: Paul Huang / Contributing reporter
Top-seeded Pure Youth Construction yesterday forced the championship finals
Taiwan Beer’s Patrick O’Bryant, left, yesterday shoots in their SBL championship final game against Pure Youth Construction at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City. Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
into a sixth game with a 75-61 win over second-seeded Taiwan Beer in Game 5 at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City, still trailing the Brew Crew by 2-3 in the best-of-seven series.
Close plays dominated the early stages of the match, with both teams trading leads by less than five points in the first 10 minutes of play, with Darian Townes and Patrick O’Bryant leading the way for the Builders and the Brew Crew on offense with four and nine points, respectively.
Despite six turnovers in the first quarter, Taiwan Beer managed to claim a 14-12 lead after 10 minutes of play, with Pure Youth failing to cash in on their extra ball possessions. However, their small lead lasted less than two minutes as the four-time defending champions quickly poured in 23 points in the second quarter, highlighted by eight from Chen Chien-en to close out the first half with a 35-31 cushion.
That set up an inside attack by Pure Youth with Townes racking up eight points and six rebounds, three off the offensive glass in the third to put the Builders ahead by as many as 10. The hired gun from the US finished with a game-high 18 on a night that was “do-or-die” for his team.
“We knew our backs were against the wall, so we had to come out a little more aggressive,” Townes said after the game. [FULL STORY]
