The Kaohsiung Steelers from Taiwan’s professional basketball league P. LEAGUE+ announced Friday that they will give away NT$1 million dollars (US$36,060) divided evenly between the southern port city and the first lucky contestant to make a half-court basket during a “logo shot” contest to be held at half time during their Christmas day home game.
The Steelers, who are currently fifth in the six-team league with a 1-2 record, host the Taichung-based Formosa Taishin Dreamers on Saturday at Kaohsiung Fengshan Stadium and will randomly draw three people from the audience based on their ticket stub numbers, the club said.
The three selected contestants will take a shot from the half-court line where the Kaohsiung Steelers logo is painted for a chance to win a prize of NT$500,000, based on the order in which they are selected.
The club will also donate another NT$500,000 to the city government to be placed in a fund for sports development, said club director Stanley Hsu (徐魁谷).
Children under the age of 12 will be permitted to choose a family member to take the shot on their behalf, the Steelers said in a statement.
If all three contestants fail to sink a half-court shot, the contest will roll over to Sunday when the Kaohsiung-based club hosts the Taoyuan Pilots, with an extra NT$100,000 added to the prize money, the Steelers said.
If there are no winners again on Sunday, the Kaohsiung club will continue the contest in January and increase it by an additional NT$100,000 every month the contest is held thereafter until May or until there is a winner, the Steelers said.
If there is no winner before May the prize money will reach NT$1 million, the Steelers said.
However, winners who are Taiwan residents will be subject to 10 percent tax based on domestic law, a disclaimer from the Steelers noted.
Steelers forward Lu Cheng-ju (呂政儒), who demonstrated how to sink a half-court basket by banking in a half-court shot off the glass, said the trick is to get the ball as close to the hoop as possible.
“The point is to use your energy to get the ball to the hoop, if you don’t touch the hoop you have no chance,” Lu said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel