Jordan Heading knocked down eight triples — including the dagger, lifting Taichung Wagor to a 119-115 escape of Taoyuan in the 2021-22 T1 League season, Sunday at Chung Yuan Christian University Gymnasium.
Unlike their first two encounters that saw the Suns win over the Leopards win an average margin of 29.0 points, Taichung needed a late flurry to take down Taoyuan.
Down 97-96 after a Troy Williams triple with 5:18 left, a Su Yichin three-pointer and a couple of free throws gave Taichung a four-point cushion.
Du Yucheng though would cut the lead down to a point before Heading took charge.
The 6-foot-2 Filipino-American combo guard drained a booming triple to give his side a 106-103 lead while pulling up for another one with 52 seconds remaining that proved to be the dagger as it gave the Suns a 113-106 lead.
Steady free-throw shooting by the Suns in the endgame fended of Taoyuan while gifting Taichung its fourth win of the season — going up to 4-5 for solo fourth.
Heading ended up with 32 points built on eight treys with 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Sani Sakakini also had himself a game, tallying 35 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists while Ting Shengju added 22 points with seven assists and six rebounds.
Su Yichin and Chen Chinghuan finished with 11 and 10 points respectively with the former also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists.
For the second straight game, Caelan Tiongson struggled, putting up just three points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field with six rebounds.
Photo from Taoyuan Leopards
Leading the way for Taoyuan — a team that suffered its sixth straight loss to fall to 1-8 — was Williams, who had 31 points and 11 rebounds.
John Gillon got 29 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds as well while Du added 20 points built on six triples.
Heading and Taichung will next face the New Taipei CTBC DEA on January 23 at Xinzhuang Gymnasium. Prior to that, Tiongson and Taoyuan will take on the same team on January 22 at Xinzhuang Gymnasium.
