TPBL Liu Cheng-hsun and Tsai Chen-kang Lead Lioneers to Victory in First Playoff Game
The Hsinchu Lioneers of the TPBL professional basketball league defeated the Formosa Dreamers 97-94 in their first playoff game, thanks to the combined efforts of Liu Cheng-hsun and Tsai Chen-kang, along with Lu Kuan-hsuan's 18 points.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 21:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 22:01 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 22:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Reporter Chen Rong-chen, Taipei, May 9th) The Hsinchu Lioneers of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) today relied on the combined efforts of their 'twin guns' Liu Cheng-hsun and Tsai Chen-kang, coupled with Lu Kuan-hsuan's 18 points, to defeat the Formosa Dreamers 97-94, securing a victory in their first playoff game.
Shaking off the gloom of finishing last in the TPBL last season, the Lioneers bounced back this season to secure a playoff spot. In today's first playoff game against the Dreamers, they unexpectedly fell behind by double digits in the first quarter. Fortunately, Liu Cheng-hsun and Tsai Chen-kang, who have been long-time teammates since their student days, stepped up, and foreign player Marin Maric, coming off the bench, displayed astonishing scoring ability. In the decisive quarter, it was Lu Kuan-hsuan who stabilized the situation, helping the Lioneers secure the win.
In this game, foreign player Marin Maric played a game-high 37 minutes, contributing a 'double-double' of 21 points and 11 rebounds, becoming a crucial inside core for the Lioneers. Top pick Liu Cheng-hsun scored 14 points and 6 rebounds with over 80% shooting accuracy, while Tsai Chen-kang had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists without any turnovers. Shooter Lu Kuan-hsuan contributed a team-high 18 points among local players.
Lioneers head coach Wesam Al-Sous stated in a post-game media interview that everyone executed the game plan well, and although the first quarter was not ideal with several turnovers leading to easy points for the opponent, they found a way to respond in the second half, and players stepped up when needed. 'This is just one victory, and we will continue to focus on the next game.'
For his first playoff experience in his professional career, Liu Cheng-hsun laughed and said he was a bit nervous at first, but his teammates encouraged him not to be nervous, and even if he missed shots, he would still receive encouragement, which allowed him to gradually relax and play as he usually does in practice. He directly stated that this victory was a team effort, even though the process was a bit tough. 'As the coach said, we can be happy for a bit, but we still need to actively prepare for the next game.'
Al-Sous added that Liu Cheng-hsun is a very dedicated player who can perform any task well and is an excellent defender who can guard multiple positions. He even expressed surprise that Liu Cheng-hsun's name was not on the TPBL league's first or second All-Defensive Team. 'Of course, he still has room for improvement, which will be the nourishment for his continued growth.' (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150509
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(Central News Agency, Reporter Chen Rong-chen, Taipei, May 9th) The Hsinchu Lioneers of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) today relied on the combined efforts of their 'twin guns' Liu Cheng-hsun and Tsai Chen-kang, coupled with Lu Kuan-hsuan's 18 points, to defeat the Formosa Dreamers 97-94, securing a victory in their first playoff game.
Shaking off the gloom of finishing last in the TPBL last season, the Lioneers bounced back this season to secure a playoff spot. In today's first playoff game against the Dreamers, they unexpectedly fell behind by double digits in the first quarter. Fortunately, Liu Cheng-hsun and Tsai Chen-kang, who have been long-time teammates since their student days, stepped up, and foreign player Marin Maric, coming off the bench, displayed astonishing scoring ability. In the decisive quarter, it was Lu Kuan-hsuan who stabilized the situation, helping the Lioneers secure the win.
In this game, foreign player Marin Maric played a game-high 37 minutes, contributing a 'double-double' of 21 points and 11 rebounds, becoming a crucial inside core for the Lioneers. Top pick Liu Cheng-hsun scored 14 points and 6 rebounds with over 80% shooting accuracy, while Tsai Chen-kang had 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists without any turnovers. Shooter Lu Kuan-hsuan contributed a team-high 18 points among local players.
Lioneers head coach Wesam Al-Sous stated in a post-game media interview that everyone executed the game plan well, and although the first quarter was not ideal with several turnovers leading to easy points for the opponent, they found a way to respond in the second half, and players stepped up when needed. 'This is just one victory, and we will continue to focus on the next game.'
For his first playoff experience in his professional career, Liu Cheng-hsun laughed and said he was a bit nervous at first, but his teammates encouraged him not to be nervous, and even if he missed shots, he would still receive encouragement, which allowed him to gradually relax and play as he usually does in practice. He directly stated that this victory was a team effort, even though the process was a bit tough. 'As the coach said, we can be happy for a bit, but we still need to actively prepare for the next game.'
Al-Sous added that Liu Cheng-hsun is a very dedicated player who can perform any task well and is an excellent defender who can guard multiple positions. He even expressed surprise that Liu Cheng-hsun's name was not on the TPBL league's first or second All-Defensive Team. 'Of course, he still has room for improvement, which will be the nourishment for his continued growth.' (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to get the latest news instantly.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.