PLG's Taichung Falcons Miss Finals; Coach Korner Encourages Team: 'Success is Just Postponed'

The Taichung Falcons of Taiwan's P.LEAGUE+ (PLG) suffered a crushing 79-109 defeat to the Taipei Fubon Braves on the 28th, missing out on the championship series for the second year in a row. Head coach Raoul Korner stated after the game that as long as the team continues to do the right things, success will eventually come.

The PLG playoffs are a best-of-five series. Facing a must-win situation, the Falcons were hit by the absence of key foreign players Fardaws Aimaq and Ray McCallum, forcing them to play with only one foreign player. Despite a strong 8-0 start, the team lacked an inside presence and was eventually overtaken, ending their season.

Coach Raoul Korner expressed his heartbreak at seeing his players' disappointment. He described the game as a microcosm of their season, which was plagued by injuries. 'From starting the season with only one foreign player to ending it with only one, it feels like we are back to square one,' he said.

Thanking his players for their hard work, Korner emotionally encouraged them, saying, 'Let's use this game as motivation to move forward.' Team leader Ku Mao Wei-chia, who won the Most Improved Player award this season, admitted he felt discouraged upon learning they would only have one foreign player. However, he expressed gratitude for the mutual support within the team. 'We gave it our all, and we will continue to improve on our weaknesses,' he said.