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TPBL Playoffs: Gao Guo-hao scores 6 points amid personal turmoil, emphasizes team's win | Liberty Times (TW)

From Liberty Times · (15m ago) Chinese Mixed tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Gao Guo-hao, a key player for the Hsinchu Lioneers, scored only 6 points in the TPBL playoffs due to personal family matters.
  • He acknowledged the impact of his off-court issues but emphasized prioritizing the team's success and winning.
  • Despite his subdued performance, the Lioneers secured a crucial win in the playoff game.

Hsinchu Lioneers' star player, Gao Guo-hao, acknowledged that personal family matters have affected his performance, contributing to his low score of 6 points in the crucial TPBL playoff opener. The player, who typically averages 14.6 points per game during the regular season, struggled, making only 2 of 6 field goal attempts and committing 3 turnovers in 33 minutes of play.

Gao's personal life has been under intense media scrutiny recently due to a public dispute involving his wife and allegations of spousal rights infringement. While he had previously apologized and stated he and his wife were in divorce negotiations, his wife's lawyer issued a statement asserting she has no intention of divorcing him. This ongoing situation has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the player.

The key is not to let myself be affected. The most important thing is the team and the playoffs. Winning must come first.

โ€” Gao Guo-haoHsinchu Lioneers player Gao Guo-hao addressing the impact of his personal issues on his game and reaffirming his commitment to the team's success.

Despite the distractions, Gao reiterated his commitment to the team, stating, "The key is not to let myself be affected. The most important thing is the team and the playoffs. Winning must come first." His sentiment was echoed by the team's collective effort, which secured a hard-fought victory, their first at the Intercontinental Mini Dome since May 13, 2022. The win highlighted the team's resilience and ability to perform under pressure, even with their leading scorer facing significant personal challenges.

It was indeed not easy to win this game, especially with the intensity and pressure of the playoffs. Winning is relatively more difficult, but the focus must be on ourselves. Everyone contributed today, and someone stepped up in difficult situations.

โ€” Gao Guo-haoGao Guo-hao reflecting on the team's hard-fought playoff victory.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.