BASKETBALL/Gao Jin-wei wins 2025-26 TPBL regular season MVP

Taipei, June 11 (CNA) Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards point guard Gao Jin-wei (高錦瑋) won the 2025-26 Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) regular season MVP award on Wednesday.

Gao beat New Taipei CTBC DEA forward Mohanned Al Bachir Gadiaga and Hsinchu Lioneers guard Kao Kuo-hao (高國豪) to lift the trophy at the league's annual award ceremony in Taipei.

"It's incredible because, as I said, I'm not satisfied with my performance this season and I think I could have played better," Gao, 25, told reporters after he was presented with the award by TPBL President Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄).

"But just like my girlfriend told me, I don't have to qualify for it until I'm well prepared for it," Gao said. "I know how much effort I put into the work, and I deserve this."

Gao, who played all 36 regular-season games, averaged 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. His points per game were the third highest among all local players, behind Gadiaga's 17.9 points and Kao's 14.7 points.

The Taiwanese point guard was also the league's most prolific three-point shooter, making 103 three-pointers while shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. Gadiaga ranked second with 79 made threes.

According to a TPBL press release on Wednesday, Gao received 118 of 130 media points and 14,826 fan votes, earning 47.7 percent of the combined vote.

Meanwhile, at the ceremony on Wednesday, Gao's teammate Lasannah Kromah won the Most Valuable Import award. In addition to a league-leading 2.8 steals per game, Kromah averaged 24.2 points and 6.5 assists, ranking third and fourth in the league, respectively.

Kromah and Gao helped lead the Leopards to a league-best 23-13 regular-season record. However, the team was eliminated by the New Taipei Kings in the first round of the playoffs, losing the series 3-1.

Also on Wednesday, the Rookie of the Year award was announced, going to Lioneers guard Liu Cheng-hsun (劉丞勳). Liu averaged nearly 25.5 minutes per game across all 36 regular-season games, posting 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

He received all 130 media points and 21,660 fan votes, garnering 64.6 percent of the vote, the league said.

The 2025-26 TPBL season concluded Saturday when the Formosa Dreamers defeated the Kings 90-78 in Taichung to win the Finals series 4-3. After trailing 3-1, the Dreamers won three straight games to secure the franchise's first professional championship.