Taiwan Hoops: November 1999

CBA will schedule a "Experimental Season" in January, 2000, which features all six teams with each plays 10 "regular season"games, the league's re-structure committee announced after its second meeting on November 18. The committee claimed if the experimental season goes well and receives nice fan response, the league will be able to move on to the next stage of re-establishing Taiwanese professional basketball.

The short season will have a maximum of 41 games, regular season and playoff games combined. All games will be played at Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium (main venue) and Taipei County Gymnasium in Panchiao. Each team is allowed to take two imports. Import rules will be announced on later date.

The short season format:
--Each team plays all other teams twice. It means there will be 30 regular season games.
--There will be six games every week with one game each in Thursday and Friday, double-header both in Saturday and Sunday.
--Top four teams advance to playoffs.
--Best-of-three first round playoff will see regular season No.1 vs No.4, No.2 vs No.3. Winners advance.
--Finals will be best-of-five.

Sponsored by local enterprises, Hong-kuo, Yulon and CBA All-Star entered a four-game tournament "Sinchu Cup", which is played in Sinchu city. The tournament will not be counted as the official CBA competition. Therefore, Yulon Dinos even BORROWED amateur players from A-League because they're short of players.

Nov.18 Hong-kuo 110-96 Yulon
Yulon:Chen Hsin-An 33p(13-19 FG, 3-5 3PT) in 28 minutes..Chen is a 19 year-old
borrowed from Bank of Taiwan in A-League
Hong-kuo:Chou Jun-San 26p, 7rb,4a,3s..Huang Chun-Hsiung 18p, 17rb

Remaining Schedule
Nov.19 Yulon vs CBA All-Star
Nov.20 Hong-kuo vs CBA All-Star
Nov.27 Championship

Notes--
(1)The dozen players listed below include veteran players who had established themselves as professionals in the CBA and several promising youngsters who are still in amateur or high school level.All of them are Taiwanese.

(2)The CBA suspended its 1998-99 season indefinitely in March, 1999 due to financial difficulties. At the time each team only played 20-plus games, about half of the original 50-game season.

(3)The six CBA teams are HONG-KUO ELEPHANTS, YULON DINOS, KAOHSIUNG MARS, LUCKIPAR PANTHERS, HONG-FU RAMS and DACIN TIGERS.

VETERAN PLAYERS

Cheng Chih-Lung
Status/League:Pro/CBA(Chinese Basketball Alliance, Taiwan)
**Signed an one season contract with China's Shanghai Sharks in October, 1999.
Position:Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Height:6-3 1/2(192cm)
Born:1969/8/29
Career Notes: As an 18 year-old in 1987, became the youngest National Team member ever in Taiwan basketball history...Led CBA in 3P FG%(.443), named November MVP in 94-95...Led CBA in FT%(.843), named CBA First Team and Finals MVP in 95-96...Led CBA in FT%(.863), 3P FG%(.452), named Regular Season MVP and All-Local First Team in 96- 97...Led CBA in FG%(.557), named CBA First Team, All-Defensive Team and Finals MVP in 97-98...Nicknamed "Doctor"...Averaged 18.2ppg(fourth) and 2.0spg(sixth) in 20th Asian Basketball Championship(1999)...His father is an American soldier who he never meet...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 H.K. 41 1230 18.6 3.4 2.5 296 531 55.7 47 104 45.2 122 152 80.3
98-99 H.K. DNP-Injury

Technical Analysis: Simply the biggest name in Taiwanese basketball, even in Asia...virtually unstoppable one-on-one skill...Cheng is a complete offensive package, featuring series of moves on offense like various ballfakes, fadeaway jumper, leaner, floater, double-pump...you name them, he has them...can also post up opponents down low and score...a very smart and sneaky scorer...known for flashy dunking earlier in his career, Cheng concentrated on "just simply score" later on...recognized by ABC as the most versitile player in Asia...because of his scoring ability, Cheng's passing and defense sometimes get overlooked...with Cheng, Hong-kuo and Taiwan NT both like to use him in isolation down the stetch, since he can always creat his own shot off the dribble and is also a great free throw shooter...good at reading defense, using screens and moving without the ball...great footwork...can score in traffic...opponents love to bang him to make him less effective...at 30 years-old, Cheng is at the peak of his game...

Chou Jun-San
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Point Guard
Height:5-9(175cm)
Born:1969/1/28
Career Notes: Led CBA in APG three consecutive years in 94-97(6.6, 8.8, 6.1)...Led CBA in 3P FG%(.503) in 97-98...Named February MVP and CBA First Team in 94-95; January MVP in 95-96; Best Image Award, All-Local First Team and Third Phase MVP in 96-97; CBA First Team in 97-98...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 H.K. 47 1672 12.4 3.2 6.0 201 412 48.8 95 189 50.3 84 114 73.7
98-99 H.K. DNP-Injury

Technical Analysis: During the last five to six years, Chou was regarded as the best point guard in the CBA, leading the league in assists in the first three seasons...prefers to penetrate and kicks the ball out to open shooters...respectable perimeter shooting ability, especially beyond the arch...tends to be too flashy sometimes...if studying him hard enough, should be able to cut off his penetrate-and-dish passing lane and make him ineffective...his game slides down a bit after injury...explosive first step(before injury)...

Huang Chun-Hsiung
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Forward
Height:6-7(201cm)
Born:1971/11/19
Career Notes: Named All-Local First Team in 96-97...7.8rpg and 50.0 3P FG% ranked sixth and fifth, respectively, in 20th Asian Basketball Championship(1999)

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 H.K. 43 1481 11.0 4.4 1.0 180 376 47.9 39 115 33.9 73 109 66.9
98-99 H.K. 16 435 6.6 3.7 1.5 43 104 41.4 12 31 38.7 7 17 41.2

Technical Analysis: His play in the 20th Asian Basketball Championship drew high regards among numerous Asian pro teams...started out his career in center, then power forward, then small forward...needs to bulk up his slim bulid and show intensity every time down the floor...shooting range expands during recent years...tends to rely too much on outside shot, no back-to-the-basket moves at all, which dips his field goal percentage...awesome leaping ability and body coordination for a 6-7 guy...likes to move without the ball and does most of his work around baseline and follow-up...

Lo Shin-Liang
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Shooting Guard
Height:5-11(180cm)
Born:1971/3/18
Career Notes: No.2 scorer in 20th Asian Basketball Championship(1999) with 20.3ppg...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 H.K. 41 626 5.4 1.6 0.7 83 189 43.9 35 97 36.1 21 29 72.4
98-99 Dacin 20 839 17.0 4.0 4.3 114 256 44.5 42 112 37.5 69 82 87.2

Technical Analysis: A self-made shooter...has been known for shooting ability since junior high...there's not much you can ask from him if you takes away his shooting though...buried on the bench during the first three seasons in star-studded Hong-kuo, blossomed into a prolific scorer in Dacin...terrific scorer's mentality, will keep firing from outside until you bench him...too short for a modern day two guard, fundamental and passing are also questionable...

Chu Chi-Chin
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Power Forward/Center
Height:6-6(198cm)
Born:1969/7/18
Career Notes: 95-96 CBA Rookie of the Year...Named Fourth Phase MVP and All-Local First Team in 96-97...Named CBA First Team and All-Defensive Team in 97-98...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 H.F. 50 2028 14.8 5.5 1.9 314 688 45.6 29 110 26.4 82 172 47.7
98-99 H.F. 19 541 9.8 4.4 1.7 78 168 46.4 8 32 25.0 22 36 61.1

Technical Analysis: The only inside presence on the national team, strong body, fair skills...is not afraid to mix it up in the paint...his game slided down greatly in the past two years...lacks the competetive desire due to off court problems with management...Shaq-
like free throw...

PROMISING YOUNGSTERS

Yen Hsin-Shu
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Point Guard
Height:6-0(182cm)
Born:1976/9/8
Career Notes: 96-97 CBA Most Improved Player Award...Led CBA in APG two consecutive years in 97-99(6.4, 6.4)...Named CBA First Team and All-Defensive Team in 97-98...Led CBA in 3P FG%(.432) in 98-99...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 Mars 50 2022 11.8 3.5 6.4 209 430 48.6 36 114 31.6 134 169 79.3
98-99 Mars 20 697 16.7 2.5 6.4 119 227 52.4 35 81 43.2 61 76 80.3

Technical Analysis: Perceived as the most promising lead guard in 21st century...Yen's scoring and assists average increased for the fourth consecutive year...a classic pass-first point guard who excels in the open court with highly underrated scoring ability...an uncanny passer who always find the open man...needs to learn to play in the half-court set and slash more...

Hsu Chi-Chao
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Shooting Guard
Height:6-2 1/2(189cm)
Born:1974/5/1
Career Notes:

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 Dacin 50 1754 13.3 3.3 1.6 260 563 46.2 57 158 36.1 86 126 68.3
98-99 DNP-Military service

Technical Analysis: Aside from Cheng Chih-Lung, the most reliable mid-range jump shooter in Taiwan...likes to shoot from the wing, sometimes sneaks to the baseline and caught the defensive player off-guard...his signature move is fake-and-shoot...unimpressive foot speed...

Chen Chi-Chun
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Point Guard
Height:6-0(182cm)
Born:1977/3/2
Career Notes: Won Three-point Shootout in 96-97 CBA All-Star Game...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 Lucki 49 1389 7.7 2.1 2.0 133 289 46.0 40 115 34.8 69 98 70.4
98-99 Lucki 20 791 10.5 2.8 4.2 78 199 39.2 28 80 35.0 26 32 81.3

Technical Analysis: Up-and-coming PG prospect...will play 48 minute chest-to-chest defense like a junkyard dog, like to challenge and harass the opposing dribbler...sometimes pays for his defense style: picking up ticky-tack and stupid fouls...terrific fundamental, espceially dribbling...slim but strong...needs to learn to read defense better, mid-range shooting also takes work...

Chou Hung-Yu
Status/League:Pro/CBA
Position:Small Forward
Height:6-5(195cm)
Born:1976/6/15
Career Notes: Ranked fifth in FG% in 20th Asian Basketball Championship(1999) with 74%, shooting an outstanding 17 for 24 from the field in limited playing time...Selected to NT in 1999 for the first time...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 Yulon 4 32 3.8 0 0 7 13 53.9 0 1 0 1 2 50.0
98-99 Yulon 23 577 7.7 2.2 1.3 81 171 47.4 4 14 28.6 14 21 66.7

Technical Analysis: Played center in high school, Chou possesses outstanding high-post moves and various ballfakes...a late bloomer, did not play much before 98-99 season...worked himself into a reliable mid-range jump shooter, needs to expand his range though...With his great ballfakes and move without the ball, Chou plays a very fluid game, use his finesse over power...it seems he is always in the right place at the right time...has potential to be the best small forward in Taiwan going into the new millenium...

Chen Hsin-An
Status/League:Amateur/Bank of Taiwan, A-League
Position:Small Forward/Shooting Guard
Height:6-4(193cm)
Born:1980/7/1
Career Notes: Burst onto the national scene in 1998, by now Chen has become the hottest young star both in Taiwan and East Asia... Clearly the best young prospect in Taiwan... Selected to National Team in 1998 as an 18 year-old and tied Cheng Chih-Lung's record as
the youngest NT member in history...Ranked fourth in FG% in 20th Asian Basketball Championship(1999) with 75%, shooting 6 for 8 from the field in limited playing time...

As a high school senior in 1998, averaged 20.1ppg, 5.6rpg, 2.3apg and 1.8spg in 19 regular season games and single-handedly carried unheralded Songshan HS to fifth place in HBL Division I...In the 1998 International High School Tournament which features four teams from Korea, Japan and Taiwan, led Taiwan HS All-Star team with 17.8ppg...

Starred in 1998 JAPAN NIKE CAMP and drew rare review from NBA star guard Penny Hardaway...Led Taiwan Junior NT with 23.0ppg and 7.0rpg in Asian Junior Basketball Championship(Calcutta, India)...Named by Asian Basketball Confederation as the most promising junior player in Asia along with 7-6 center Yao Ming from China...In his first season in A-League, led Bank of Taiwan to third place and named to league's All-Star Team...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 Songshan HS(HBL) Not available
98-99 Bank of Taiwan Not available

Technical Analysis: Chen possesses rare combination of perimeter shooting and various explosive high-flying act...a very exciting player who excels in open court...the most unusual aspect of his game that drew insiders' attention is his poise at this young age and his uncanny passing ability...a very unselfish player, sometimes so unselfish to a fault...however, when he's on, nobody's gonna stop him from scoring...outstanding leaping ability makes him dunk with ease, earning him the nickname "Prince of Dunk"...

Physical talent and the will to learn are two of his biggest upsides...though spending most of his playing time at small forward, Chen has expressed he would like to be a two guard for higher level competetion...his height will make him even more difficult to stop at shooting guard position...because of his youth, Chen tends to fade into the backgrounds sometimes, referring to his older teammates, which leads some folks questionaing his desire to dominate...always let the game comes to him, never force any action on the court...one-on-one defense needs to improve...

Chen Jian-Chou
Status/League:Amateur/Da-Hua Construction, A-League
Position:Forward
Height:6-3(190cm)
Born:1977/5/2
Career Notes: 1999 A-League All-Star Team...Last-minute addition to NT in 20th Asian Basketball Championship(1999), did not play a single minute, though...Led Flying Camel (Taiwan's military basketball team) to 1998 A-League champion...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
97-98 Flying Camel Not available
98-99 Flying Camel Not available

Technical Analysis: Chen's freak hairstyle will be your first impression on him, but he is much more than just a "Generation Y" player...local folks compared his built and playing style to NBA's Charles Barkley...he is a under-sized center/power forward in A-League, but a very effective one...always relentless on the board at both ends of the floor and plays the game with high intensity and emotion, which carries over to his teammates...though stands only 6-3, basically an inside player...dominates opponents with his awesome upperbody power and great leaping ability...Chen gradually expands his range to 19 feet in...height deficiency will make it hard for him to matchup against taller opponentsin the 4 spot at a higher level...dedicates himself to defense in every minute...

Tien Lei
Status/League:High School Sophomore/HBL(High School Basketball League)
Position:Forward/Center
Height:6-7(201cm)
Born:1983/6/1
Career Notes: Selected to 1999 HBL All-Star Team as a high school freshman!!...Dubbed by NBA Sacramento assistant coach Pete Carril, former coach of Princeton University, as the most promising player in 1999 TAIWAN NIKE CAMP...

Season Team G Min PPG RPG APG FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT%
98-99 Sanmin HS(HBL) Not available

Technical Analysis: Tien, who's very slim but still growing, can be the tallest small forward in Taiwan basketball history, he has the talent to go with his height. Meanwhile, he wants to be a 3, too...very good lateral speed, good touch around the basket and perimeter...he can also beat opponents off the dribble with ease and creat his own shots...

Taiwan Hoops

Sunday, November 28, 1999

HONG-KUO BEAT YULON IN SINCHU CUP FINAL

Friday, November 19, 1999

CBA WILL PLAY EXPERIMENTAL SEASON

Monday, November 08, 1999

TAIWAN PLAYERS PROFILES

Saturday, November 06, 1999

CBA Calls For Re-Structure Committee