Lin Ting-chien's Clutch Three-Pointer Seals Overtime Win for Taiwan Basketball

Taiwan's men's basketball team secured a dramatic 82-80 overtime victory against South Korea in Goyang, South Korea, on July 3, overcoming intense pressure from the home crowd. Guard Lin Ting-chien was the hero, sinking a clutch game-tying three-pointer with just 7.2 seconds remaining in regulation.

"I just stayed calm," Lin Ting-chien said after the game. "Thank you to my teammates for trusting me."

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I just stayed calm. Thank you to my teammates for trusting me.

Taiwan had trailed by as many as 19 points during the game. With 13 seconds left and trailing by three, Lin Ting-chien's initial three-point attempt missed. However, teammate Abasi grabbed the offensive rebound, giving Lin Ting-chien a second chance to tie the score, which he converted to force overtime and ultimately set the stage for a stunning comeback.

Lin Ting-chien played nearly 37 minutes in the pivotal game, scoring 10 points on 6-of-19 shooting from the field, including a single, invaluable three-pointer out of nine attempts. "I just stayed calm," he reiterated. "Thank you to the coaches and teammates for creating opportunities for me. Even when my shot wasn't falling, they continued to believe in me."

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I just stayed calm. Thank you to the coaches and teammates for creating opportunities for me. Even when my shot wasn't falling, they continued to believe in me.

Point guard You Ai-che, who plays in Japan, also played a significant role as a surprise contributor. He successfully changed the game's tempo when Chen Ying-chun encountered foul trouble, which in turn opened up scoring opportunities for Chen Ying-chun and Lin Ting-chien. "I always knew he had this ability, and he seized the opportunity this time," Lin Ting-chien said of You Ai-che. "I'm very happy for him. We guards often communicate privately and learn from Chen Ying-chun."

With this victory, Taiwan holds a 2-3 record in Group B, tied with China and South Korea. A win against China on July 4 would mark their first-ever advancement to the second round of the World Cup qualifiers.

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I always knew he had this ability, and he seized the opportunity this time. I'm very happy for him. We guards often communicate privately and learn from Chen Ying-chun.