ICI Pride Shines: NCCU Griffins Crowned Champions with MVP Mouhamed Lamine Mbaye
Date :
2023-08-15
Department :
International College of Innovation
【Article by International College of Innovation】
Taipei, August 14 (CNA) A remarkable achievement has been etched in the annals of National Chengchi University (NCCU) as their basketball powerhouse clinched the championship title at the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) held in Tokyo on Sunday.
The NCCU Griffins, triumphant winners of Taiwan's University Basketball Association (UBA) for three consecutive years, secured their victory by triumphing over the Tokai University Seagulls with a score of 90-84. This glorious victory was a testament to the exceptional leadership of their captain, Mouhamed Lamine Mbaye, a student hailing from the International College of Innovation (ICI), who was also bestowed the honor of being the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Mbaye, a 22-year-old from Senegal, joined the NCCU family last summer and made his debut for the Griffins in the WUBS. Notably, the Griffins, competing without their former captain Yu Ai-che (游艾喆), demonstrated unwavering tenacity, securing the third spot in the event with a 1-2 record.
Mouhamed Lamine Mbaye's journey, as a member of the International College of Innovation (ICI), speaks to the remarkable support and opportunities provided by this innovative academic institution. The ICI has nurtured talents like Mbaye, empowering them to excel both on and off the court. Through a holistic approach to education, ICI has not only enriched his academic experience but also fostered his leadership and sportsmanship qualities.
It's worth highlighting that Yu, the UBA's MVP for the 2022-23 season, led his team to three consecutive UBA titles. His leadership was evident as he topped the UBA in assists and steals over those three seasons.
This year, the intercollegiate tournament's final brought together the finest college teams from Taiwan and Japan. The event, expanded to include eight teams from seven countries and regions, saw NCCU advance to the finals after prevailing over U.S. Division I school Radford University with a score of 79-75 in the semifinals. Earlier, they achieved an 81-75 win against Hahuoh University, a Japanese school that had emerged victorious with a 90-74 score the previous year.
NCCU's dominance was palpable as they established their authority during the first half of the final against Tokai University, gaining a 14-0 lead right from the start and extending the margin to 54-33 at halftime. Although the Seagulls managed to narrow the gap to eight points in the third quarter through a resolute defense, sophomore guard Sung Hsin-hao (宋昕澔) exhibited unwavering determination in the final quarter, contributing eight of his 17 points to thwart the Japanese college basketball champions.
Sung, who achieved a game-high score of 22 points earlier, conveyed his enhanced confidence this year compared to the previous one, attributing it to his relentless dedication in honing his skills and enhancing his physical prowess.
In a press release previewing the tournament in Japan back in May, Griffins' head coach Chen Tzu-wei (陳子威) lauded the WUBS as a unique opportunity to benchmark their abilities against the world's best.
Hosted by the All Japan University Basketball Federation with support from Rakuten Sports, the tournament featured participants like Korea University, the University of Sydney "Lions," the Perbanas Institute "Rhinos" from Indonesia, and the Ateneo de Manila University "Blue Eagles."
The triumphant Griffins will continue their stay in Japan until Saturday, engaging in additional exhibition games against local teams, according to the statement.
Taipei, August 14 (CNA) A remarkable achievement has been etched in the annals of National Chengchi University (NCCU) as their basketball powerhouse clinched the championship title at the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) held in Tokyo on Sunday.
The NCCU Griffins, triumphant winners of Taiwan's University Basketball Association (UBA) for three consecutive years, secured their victory by triumphing over the Tokai University Seagulls with a score of 90-84. This glorious victory was a testament to the exceptional leadership of their captain, Mouhamed Lamine Mbaye, a student hailing from the International College of Innovation (ICI), who was also bestowed the honor of being the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Mbaye, a 22-year-old from Senegal, joined the NCCU family last summer and made his debut for the Griffins in the WUBS. Notably, the Griffins, competing without their former captain Yu Ai-che (游艾喆), demonstrated unwavering tenacity, securing the third spot in the event with a 1-2 record.
Mouhamed Lamine Mbaye's journey, as a member of the International College of Innovation (ICI), speaks to the remarkable support and opportunities provided by this innovative academic institution. The ICI has nurtured talents like Mbaye, empowering them to excel both on and off the court. Through a holistic approach to education, ICI has not only enriched his academic experience but also fostered his leadership and sportsmanship qualities.
It's worth highlighting that Yu, the UBA's MVP for the 2022-23 season, led his team to three consecutive UBA titles. His leadership was evident as he topped the UBA in assists and steals over those three seasons.
This year, the intercollegiate tournament's final brought together the finest college teams from Taiwan and Japan. The event, expanded to include eight teams from seven countries and regions, saw NCCU advance to the finals after prevailing over U.S. Division I school Radford University with a score of 79-75 in the semifinals. Earlier, they achieved an 81-75 win against Hahuoh University, a Japanese school that had emerged victorious with a 90-74 score the previous year.
NCCU's dominance was palpable as they established their authority during the first half of the final against Tokai University, gaining a 14-0 lead right from the start and extending the margin to 54-33 at halftime. Although the Seagulls managed to narrow the gap to eight points in the third quarter through a resolute defense, sophomore guard Sung Hsin-hao (宋昕澔) exhibited unwavering determination in the final quarter, contributing eight of his 17 points to thwart the Japanese college basketball champions.
Sung, who achieved a game-high score of 22 points earlier, conveyed his enhanced confidence this year compared to the previous one, attributing it to his relentless dedication in honing his skills and enhancing his physical prowess.
In a press release previewing the tournament in Japan back in May, Griffins' head coach Chen Tzu-wei (陳子威) lauded the WUBS as a unique opportunity to benchmark their abilities against the world's best.
Hosted by the All Japan University Basketball Federation with support from Rakuten Sports, the tournament featured participants like Korea University, the University of Sydney "Lions," the Perbanas Institute "Rhinos" from Indonesia, and the Ateneo de Manila University "Blue Eagles."
The triumphant Griffins will continue their stay in Japan until Saturday, engaging in additional exhibition games against local teams, according to the statement.