Taipei: The Formosa Dreamers defeated the Taipei Taishin Mars 108-98 in a closely contested match in the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL), marking the return of veteran player Julian Boyd.

According to Focus Taiwan, this victory allowed the Dreamers to improve their record to 7-7, bringing their winning percentage back to .500 and positioning them in joint third place. The Dreamers have now beaten the Mars twice this season, while the Mars' record stands at 6-6. Both teams trail the second-place New Taipei CTBC DEA by 0.5 games and the league leaders, Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards, by three games.

The Dreamers took control of the game in the second quarter, building their largest lead when Aric Holman hit a three-pointer to extend the score to 52-31. The Mars responded with a 17-5 run, narrowing the gap to 57-48 by halftime. Despite the Mars' efforts, the Dreamers maintained their lead through a balanced offensive strategy, with six players scoring in double figures, evenly split between domestic and imported players. The Mars had four players scoring at least 10 points, with only one being a domestic player.

Julian Boyd, returning to the team, made a notable impact by contributing 12 points, including seven in the final period. Boyd emphasized the importance of teamwork and resilience in overcoming the Mars' challenge. Commentator Ma Yi-hung highlighted Boyd's consistent threat in the paint.

Boyd, a 35-year-old American forward, has been a part of the Dreamers in previous seasons and recently expressed his intention to be naturalized to represent Taiwan's national team. Boyd's return was officially announced on December 16, and he expressed his affection for Taichung, referring to it as his "second home."

The Dreamers are scheduled to face the CTBC DEA in their final game of the year at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.