TPBL Round 25 (Regular Season): Dreamers lose to Lioneers

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in T1 League. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked Dreamers (20-14) and seventh ranked Lioneers (12-24) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Dreamers were crushed by Lioneers 79-106. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Dreamers. Lioneers dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Dreamers' 38. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Landers Nolley II (201-2000, college: Cincinnati) who helped to win the game recording 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC, agency: Diamond Sports) contributed with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American Beau Beech (203-1994, college: UNF) answered with 24 points and 9 rebounds for Dreamers. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Lioneers maintains seventh place with 12-24 record. Dreamers at the other side keep the second position with 14 games lost. Lioneers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Dreamers will play at home against Taiwan Beer L. and are hoping to win this game.
Very important is a loss of third ranked Aquas (19-17) against seventh ranked Lioneers (12-24) on Sunday night. Aquas were crushed by Lioneers 118-99. American guard Landers Nolley II (201-2000, college: Cincinnati) stepped up with a triple-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals for the winners and Kuo-Hao Kao chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side American Craig Sword (190-1994, college: MSU) responded with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lioneers maintains seventh place with 12-24 record. Kaohsiung A. at the other side keeps the third position with 17 games lost.
An interesting game for Kings (26-9) which played against 4th placed Taipei TM (16-20). First ranked Kings managed to get a 5-point victory 102-97. Kenny Manigault nailed a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side. Micheal Eric came up with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds for Taipei TM in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Kings have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 26-9 record. Taipei TM lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with 20 games lost. They share it with N.Taipei CTBC. Kings will meet league's second-placed Dreamers in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Taipei TM will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 25 Taiwan Beer L. smashed N.Taipei CTBC 95-76. N.Taipei CTBC won against Taipei TM 96-89.



N.Taipei CTBC - Taiwan Beer L. 76-95

There was a small surprise when sixth ranked Leopards (15-20) crushed their close opponent N.Taipei CTBC (16-20) 95-76 on Saturday. Taiwan Beer L. dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to N.Taipei CTBC's 38. They outrebounded N.Taipei CTBC 55-39 including a 42-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. Taiwan Beer L. looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American-Liberian Lasan Kromah (198-1991, college: UConn, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) nailed a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists for the winning side and Lithuanian center Egidijus Mockevicius (208-1992, college: Evansville) accounted for 14 points and 14 rebounds. Four Leopards players scored in double figures. American point guard Daron Russell (180-1998, college: Maryland) came up with 31 points and 5 rebounds and Croatian center Kristijan Krajina (208-1990, college: Mt.St.Mary's, agency: 011 Sports) added 15 points and 12 rebounds respectively for N.Taipei CTBC in the defeat. Defending champion maintains sixth place with 15-20 record. N.Taipei CTBC lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fourth position with 20 games lost. They share it with Taipei TM. Taiwan Beer L. will meet league's second-placed Dreamers in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. N.Taipei CTBC will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Taiwan Beer L.: L.Kromah 31+10reb+9ast, D.Williams 15+11reb+3ast, E.Mockevicius 14+14reb+1ast, J.Gao 12+11reb+6ast, S.Lin 9+1reb+2ast, H.Wang 6+4reb+1ast
N.Taipei CTBC: D.Russell 31+5reb+2ast, K.Krajina 15+12reb+1ast, C.Shih 11+3reb+3ast, I.Aska 8+8reb+2ast, W.Lin 6+1ast, Y.Hsieh 3+5reb+5ast

Lioneers - Dreamers 106-79

The game between second ranked Dreamers (20-14) and seventh ranked Lioneers (12-24) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Dreamers were crushed by Lioneers 79-106. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Dreamers. Lioneers dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Dreamers' 38. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Landers Nolley II (201-2000, college: Cincinnati) who helped to win the game recording 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC, agency: Diamond Sports) contributed with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. Four Lioneers players scored in double figures. American Beau Beech (203-1994, college: UNF) answered with 24 points and 9 rebounds and Bosnian-Croatian center Markus Loncar (213-1996) added 15 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Dreamers. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Lioneers maintains seventh place with 12-24 record. Dreamers at the other side keep the second position with 14 games lost. Lioneers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Dreamers will play at home against Taiwan Beer L. and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Lioneers: L.Nolley II 30+8reb+4ast, C.Tsai 15+3reb+1ast, K.Kao 14+5reb+5ast, K.Meeks 10+13reb+3ast, N.Laszewski 9+10reb+4ast, S.Hsiao 8+1ast
Dreamers: B.Beech 24+9reb+3ast, M.Loncar 15+8reb, D.Creighton 15+2reb+1ast, P.Chou 6+8reb, Y.Chiang 6+5reb, C.Wu 5+3reb+5ast

N.Taipei CTBC - Taipei TM 96-89

There was a minor upset when 4th placed Taipei TM (16-20) lost to sixth ranked N.Taipei CTBC (16-20) 89-96 on Sunday. N.Taipei CTBC looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. American point guard Daron Russell (180-1998, college: Maryland) nailed a double-double by scoring 21 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists for the winning side and Croatian center Kristijan Krajina (208-1990, college: Mt.St.Mary's, agency: 011 Sports) accounted for 14 points and 15 rebounds. American point guard Ray McCallum (191-1991, college: Detroit) came up with 26 points and 5 assists (made all of his eight free throws) and Nigerian center Micheal Eric (211-1988, college: Temple) added 13 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Taipei TM in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. N.Taipei CTBC moved-up to fourth place, which they share with defeated Taipei TM. Taipei TM lost third consecutive game.
Top scorers:
N.Taipei CTBC: D.Russell 21+7reb+10ast, Y.Hsieh 18+3reb+4ast, K.Krajina 14+15reb+1ast, I.Aska 12+5reb, R.Li 11+2reb+1ast, W.Tseng 8+2reb+1ast
Taipei TM: R.McCallum 26+4reb+5ast, S.Manu 18+3reb+3ast, M.Eric 13+12reb+4ast, T.Huang 12+4reb+2ast, S.Ting 8+6reb+4ast, W.Chen 7+2reb+3ast

Lioneers - Kaohsiung A. 118-99

Very important is a loss of third ranked Aquas (19-17) against seventh ranked Lioneers (12-24) on Sunday night. Aquas were crushed by Lioneers 118-99. Lioneers had a 41-28 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. American guard Landers Nolley II (201-2000, college: Cincinnati) stepped up with a triple-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals for the winners and the former international point guard Kuo-Hao Kao (179-1998, college: SEMO) chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side American Craig Sword (190-1994, college: MSU) responded with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import power forward Kaleb Wesson (208-1999, college: Ohio St.) scored 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Kaohsiung A. players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lioneers maintains seventh place with 12-24 record. Kaohsiung A. at the other side keeps the third position with 17 games lost.
Top scorers:
Lioneers: L.Nolley II 39+10reb+10ast, K.Kao 18+5reb+2ast, H.Tien 11+1reb+5ast, C.Tsai 10+4reb+2ast, S.Hsiao 9+2reb+1ast, C.Lee 8+1ast
Kaohsiung A.: C.Sword 23+6reb+5ast, K.Wesson 22+8reb+4ast, H.Yu 12+1reb+9ast, A.Morse 11+2reb+1ast, W.Lu 7+5reb+1ast, T.Chiu 6+4reb+1ast

Kings - Taipei TM 102-97

An interesting game for Kings (26-9) which played against 4th placed Taipei TM (16-20). First ranked Kings managed to get a 5-point victory 102-97. Kings looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American swingman Kenny Manigault (195-1991, college: Pikeville) nailed a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side and American-Bulgarian center Jason Washburn (213-1990, college: Utah, agency: Pensack Sports) accounted for 20 points and 8 rebounds. Nigerian center Micheal Eric (211-1988, college: Temple) came up with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds and guard Sheng-Ju Ting (174-1998, college: St.Francis, IL) added 22 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively for Taipei TM in the defeat. Five Kings and four Taipei TM players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Kings have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain first place with 26-9 record. Taipei TM lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with 20 games lost. They share it with N.Taipei CTBC. Kings will meet league's second-placed Dreamers in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Taipei TM will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kings: J.Washburn 20+8reb, S.Sakakini 17+9reb+1ast, K.Manigault 17+11reb+7ast, K.Lee 16+3reb+3ast, J.Lin 16+5reb+3ast, S.Su 7+3reb
Taipei TM: M.Eric 23+12reb+1ast, S.Ting 22+4reb+4ast, K.Chien 13+4reb+2ast, S.Manu 11+4reb+6ast, M.Miller 9+8reb+1ast, R.McCallum 6+10reb+5ast