TPBL Lioneers Nearly Complete Comeback in Playoff Round 1 Game 3, Coach Vows 'Never Give Up'
In the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) playoffs, the Hsinchu Lioneers lost to the Formosa Dreamers 106-114. Despite a furious fourth-quarter rally to tie the game, they couldn't complete the comeback and are now on the brink of elimination. Coach Wesam Al-Sous encouraged his players, stating, "We are a team that never gives up."
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 00:58
- 🔍 Collected: May 15, 2026 at 01:32 (33 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 04:22 (2h 49m after Collected)
Central News Agency, Taipei, May 14 (Reporter Chen Jung-chen) - The Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers nearly staged a comeback victory in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the first playoff round today, but ultimately fell to the Formosa Dreamers 106-114. Coach Wesam Al-Sous emphasized after the game, "We are a team that never gives up."
The first round of the TPBL playoffs is a best-of-five series. The Lioneers, returning to the playoffs, hosted the Dreamers at home today, seeking to take a commanding series lead. However, after a strong first quarter, they failed to maintain their momentum. The opponent's 37-point second quarter became the turning point of the game. Even though they managed to tie the score in the fourth quarter, they eventually lost by 8 points, pushing them to the brink of elimination in the series.
In this game, Lioneers' import Marin Maric was on fire from the first quarter, finishing with a team-high 23 points, along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Tsai Chen-kang, who led the team's comeback charge in the fourth quarter, contributed 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. However, star player Kao Kuo-Hao's performance remained sluggish, scoring only 5 points, a significant drop from his regular-season performance.
Lioneers coach Wesam Al-Sous pointed out in a post-game media interview that they failed to limit the opponent's offense in the second quarter. Especially in the high intensity of the playoffs, even one bad quarter comes with a price. However, he praised the players' fighting spirit, noting that they still believed in the team even when trailing by 18 points and even managed to tie the game.
Al-Sous admitted that he really dislikes losing at home, but the series is not over yet. He hopes the players will continue to fight on the court with the belief that they have a chance to turn things around. "We are a team that will never give up. Now we focus on preparing for Saturday's game."
Regarding Kao Kuo-Hao's slump, Al-Sous revealed that he would continue to communicate with and encourage him, pointing out that he has been a bit out of rhythm lately, which has led to a loss of confidence. He also affirmed his belief that Kao is a very important player for the team. "I hope he can adjust his condition and have a bounce-back performance." (Editor: Chen Yen-chun) 1150514
The first round of the TPBL playoffs is a best-of-five series. The Lioneers, returning to the playoffs, hosted the Dreamers at home today, seeking to take a commanding series lead. However, after a strong first quarter, they failed to maintain their momentum. The opponent's 37-point second quarter became the turning point of the game. Even though they managed to tie the score in the fourth quarter, they eventually lost by 8 points, pushing them to the brink of elimination in the series.
In this game, Lioneers' import Marin Maric was on fire from the first quarter, finishing with a team-high 23 points, along with 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Tsai Chen-kang, who led the team's comeback charge in the fourth quarter, contributed 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. However, star player Kao Kuo-Hao's performance remained sluggish, scoring only 5 points, a significant drop from his regular-season performance.
Lioneers coach Wesam Al-Sous pointed out in a post-game media interview that they failed to limit the opponent's offense in the second quarter. Especially in the high intensity of the playoffs, even one bad quarter comes with a price. However, he praised the players' fighting spirit, noting that they still believed in the team even when trailing by 18 points and even managed to tie the game.
Al-Sous admitted that he really dislikes losing at home, but the series is not over yet. He hopes the players will continue to fight on the court with the belief that they have a chance to turn things around. "We are a team that will never give up. Now we focus on preparing for Saturday's game."
Regarding Kao Kuo-Hao's slump, Al-Sous revealed that he would continue to communicate with and encourage him, pointing out that he has been a bit out of rhythm lately, which has led to a loss of confidence. He also affirmed his belief that Kao is a very important player for the team. "I hope he can adjust his condition and have a bounce-back performance." (Editor: Chen Yen-chun) 1150514