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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》Lu claims month’s award
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots guard Justin Lu looks toward the basket during their P.League+ game against the Taipei Fubon Braves at Taoyuan Arena on Dec. 25 last year. Photo: CNA
Staff writer, with CNA
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots guard Justin Lu yesterday made history after being named the first back-to-back P.League+ Player of the Month.
Lu’s 15.4-point performance in December helped the Pilots conclude last year with seven straight wins and the 25-year-old extended the hot streak as the Pilots went 4-1 through last month.
Despite a schedule curtailed by the Lunar New Year, Lu averaged 21.4 points, and 33 minutes, 50 seconds per game over five outings, both team highs for the Pilots.
In addition, Lu averaged 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, with double-digit scoring performances in all five games.
A few records highlighted Lu’s and the Pilots’ January during that stretch, including becoming the P.League+’s fastest player to nail 100 three-pointers （38 games） and setting the league’s longest win streak of 10 games.
The Pilots also matched the league record for consecutive home wins by going undefeated in their first eight games of the season at Taoyuan Arena.
Lu is on an 11-game streak with at least 10 points — the longest active streak of any local player — and is only four games short of tying the 15-game record set by the New Taipei Kings’ Amigo Yang.
Yang, 38, set that record in the 30-game 2021-2022 season.
He finished the season averaging 20 points, 4.9 rebounds, three assists, and 1.3 steals per game, with a 38 percent field-goal record to be named the league’s regular-season Most Valuable Player and making the All-P.League+ team.
Each team is scheduled to play 40 games this season and with more than a half season left, Lu has a shot at breaking Yang’s record.
However, the Pilots standout faces a stiff test against back-to-back champions the Taipei Fubon Braves tomorrow.
The previous time the two teams faced off was on Jan. 28, when the Braves handed the Pilots an 86-74 loss in Taipei that snapped the visitor’s winning streak, seeing Lu shoot one for 10 for three-pointers to collect 16 points.
Over the two sides’ two games this season, Lu has averaged 13 points, making just 25 percent of his field goals and struggling from behind the arc to go one for 18 （5.6 percent）.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
