Taipei, March 27 (CNA) American forward Emmanuel Jones scored 21 points as Taiwan Beer beat defending champion Yulon Luxgen 76-75 Sunday in Game 4 of the best-of-seven first round playoffs, to roll into the 2011 Super Basketball League (SBL) Final.
Jones, a 1.96-meter forward, made five crucial free throws in the last one minute and 30 seconds to help Taiwan Beer rally from a 12-point third-quarter deficit for the 4-0 series win at Hsinjhuang Stadium in New Taipei City.
Taiwan Beer, which won back-to-back titles in 2007-2008, advanced to the finals for the first time in two years. It last appeared in the tile series in 2009, when it lost 4-3 to Dacin Tigers.
Cheng Jen-wei added 18 points for the regular season champion (22 wins, eight losses) , which made four three-pointers in the 23-12 fourth quarter to turn the game around.
Yulon, which beat Dacin 4-2 last year to win the title but fell to 15-15 this year in the regular season, was swept in a best-of-seven series for the first time in the team's history.
Taiwan Beer will enjoy an 11-day break before the best-of-seven finals April 8, also at Hsinjhuang Stadium.
The other finalist was to be decided later Sunday after Game 4 between Dacin Tigers and Pure Youth Construction. Dacin is also eyeing a sweep after three straight wins.
The seven-team SBL, the top tier basketball competition in Taiwan, was established in 2003. Yulon Luxgen won four titles in the league's first seven years. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J