Japanese celebrity Yua Mikami joins the team! Formosa Dreamers fill their home court and secure a crucial victory over the Taishin Warriors

The Formosa Dreamers faced the Taipei Taishin Warriors at their home court in the Taichung Intercontinental Mini Egg today, attracting a packed crowd of 3,000 fans. Famous Japanese artist Yua Mikami officially appeared as part of the cheerleading team "Formosa Sexy," boosting the atmosphere with her lively routine.

In the game, the Dreamers displayed aggressive team offense and defense throughout, ultimately defeating the Taipei Taishin Warriors 108-98, bringing their record to 7 wins and 7 losses.

In the first quarter, both teams exchanged attacks early on. The Dreamers kept up offensive pressure, launching a 9-0 run to pull ahead and repeatedly capitalized on the opponent’s mistakes and defensive gaps to extend their lead. Ma Jianhao was perfect from outside with 2-for-2 shooting, providing steady firepower that helped the Dreamers take the lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Dreamers maintained their offensive momentum, starting strong again. Aric Holman and Wu Jiajun scored consecutively, while Ma Jianhao hit multiple three-pointers. The team went on a 15-4 run to widen the gap further. Holman then sank a three-pointer, pushing the Dreamers’ lead to as much as 21 points. However, the Warriors fought back on fast breaks, closing the gap to 57-48 by halftime.

After halftime, the Dreamers continued their intense defensive pressure, especially on the perimeter, forcing the opponents into rushed shots as the shot clock ran down. Their defense also sparked quick transitions, keeping the lead comfortably in double digits.

Yet the Warriors did not give up. Toward the end of the third quarter, they successfully limited the Dreamers’ outside shooting and closed the gap to 5 points. At a critical moment, Lu Guanliang hit a clutch three-pointer to stabilize the situation, and the team then used stronger physical play to maintain their advantage.

In the final quarter, the intensity escalated again. The Dreamers consistently drew defensive fouls from the Warriors, converting free throws and capitalizing on offensive possessions to steadily increase the score. Facing increased pressure and a comeback attempt from the Warriors, the Dreamers found openings from beyond the arc. Zhang Zongxian caught fire, hitting consecutive crucial shots that ignited the home crowd. Despite the Warriors’ persistent rally, the Dreamers held on through disciplined offense and defense, finishing with a 108-98 victory.

Six Dreamers players scored in double digits in this game: Holman posted a comprehensive stat line with 22 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals; Jiang Yu’an added 17 points and 8 assists; Zhang Zongxian contributed 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals; Ma Jianhao hit 4 three-pointers in the first half and finished with 15 points and 3 assists; Julian Boyd scored 14 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots; Brandon Gilbeck recorded 12 points and 6 rebounds.

At the postgame press conference, head coach Jian Hao said, “Boyd’s addition has brought very positive energy to the team, both on and off the court, boosting the team’s morale. What pleased me most today was that in the late third quarter, we overcame turnover issues, returned to our team-oriented play, and extended the lead again.”

Ma Jianhao commented on the offensive performance: “We simply followed our system and tactics, looked for shooting opportunities, and decisively took advantage of the gaps the opponent left.”

Jiang Yu’an spoke about teammate Lin Junji’s absence: “Aji’s absence definitely made the defensive pressure more noticeable on the court, so I needed to manage the pace better and lead the team to execute our system. When the score got close, I also hoped everyone could adjust quickly during the game to reduce mistakes.”

The Dreamers will face the New Taipei CTBC DEA at 2:30 PM on December 28. Tickets for this game are already sold out (partly due to Yua Mikami’s cheerleading performance). We thank the fans for their enthusiastic support and look forward to seeing everyone again, defending our home winning streak and continuing the momentum together with the Dreamers.