Taiwan's professional basketball league T1 LEAGUE Thursday named Taichung Wagor Suns player Sani Sakakini import player of the month for March, his second win in the category.
In March, the 33-year-old Sakakini posted an average of 24.5 points, 16.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, playing a pivotal role for the Suns and receiving his second import player of the month award in three months.
The 204-centimeter power forward received his first import player of the month award for his performance in January when he averaged 24 points, 14.5 rebounds, five assists, and 2.5 steals per game.
While thanking his coaches and teammates, Sakakini said he did not win the honor by himself.
"We are a team. We play for each other and play as a team," Sakakini said. "Being the MVP for a second time means a lot to me, but I got it because we win games and I want to keep winning games until the end."
The well-traveled Palestinian basketball veteran Sakakini had a previous stint in Taiwan with the semi-professional Yulon Luxgen Dinos in the 2018-2019 season of the Super Basketball League (SBL).
Sakakini led the SBL in scoring that season with an average of 23.6 points per game.
He is also Palestine's first professional basketball player and led his country to qualification for the FIBA Asia Championship in 2015, where he was the tournament's top scorer.
Meanwhile, Suns forward Chen Ching-huan (???) was named player of the month for March.
Chen had an impressive month in March recording an average of 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game. He also took an average of 3.3 buckets from beyond the arc per game in the month.
Sakakini congratulated the 36-year old Chen for winning the honor.
"I am really proud of our captain Huan to win the MVP because I know how hard and smart he works. He really deserves it," Sakakini said.
The Suns are currently in second place in the six team T1 LEAGUE with a 14-8 record and are 2.5 games behind the first place Kaohsiung Aquas, who have won 17 out of 23 games so far this season.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel