Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Asian U-20: Preliminary round schedules

(Tehran Local Time)

9/29
09:00 Jordan vs. Malaysia
11:00 Saudi Arabia vs. Kazakhstan
14:00 Korea vs. Lebanon
17:00 Qatar vs. Iran
19:00 China vs. Philippines

9/30
09:00 Kazakhstan vs. Korea
11:00 Japan vs. Iraq
15:00 Kuwait vs. Qatar
17:00 Lebanon vs. Saudi Arabia
19:00 India vs. Taiwan(Chinese Taipei)

10/1
09:00 Malaysia vs. China
11:00 Philippines vs. Jordan
15:00 Iraq vs. India
17:00 Kuwait vs. Iran
19:00 Taiwan(Chinese Taipei) vs. Japan

10/2
09:00 Japan vs. India
11:00 Malaysia vs. Philippines
13:00 Korea vs. Saudi Arabia
15:00 China vs. Jordan
17:00 Kazakstan vs. Lebanon
19:00 Taiwan(Chinese Taipei) vs. Iraq

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Asian U-20: Taiwan meets India in opening prelim

Taiwan U-20 NT will meet India in the opening preliminary game in Asian U-20 Men's Championship, which will be held in Tehran, Iran.

Preliminary Brackets
Group A: Qatar, Hong Kong, Kuwait
Gorup B: Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon
Gorup C: China, Jordan, Malaysia, Philippines
Group D: Taiwan, Japan, India, Iraq

Taiwan NT prelim schedule(Taiwan Time)
9/30 2330 vs. India
10/1 2330 vs. Japan
10/2 2330 vs. Iraq

Preliminary games will use the single round robin format, as the top two teams in each group advance to the second round.

Second round Brackets
Group I: A2, B1, C2, D1
Gorup II: A1, B2, C1, D2

Cross-over semifinals will be held on October 7th and 8th.

Friday, September 24, 2004

Asian U-18: Taiwan beat Hong Kong 106-82 for fifth place

Hsu Yi-hsiu had 30 points as Taiwan Junior NT beat Hong Kong 106-82 and finished with 5th place in the tournament. Chang Yu-lin scored 16 points and Zo Tsun-kai had 13 points.

Taiwan failed to make the semifinal once again. Two years ago it was also coached by Hsu Jin-che and finished for 6th place in 2002 Asian U-18 Men’s Championship.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Asian U-18: Taiwan beat Hong Kong 114-81

Taiwan Junior NT found their second wind in mid-3rd quarter, when they managed to lead Hong Kong by only two(60-58), and went on a 54-21 run en route to a 114-81 victory. Taiwan is now 1-1 in the second round with the deciding final game vs. powerful China coming up.

Saturday, September 18, 2004

Asian U-18: Taiwan lost to Lebanon 91-101

Taiwan U-18 NT lost a hard-fought battle to Lebanon, 91-101, in the first second round game of the Asian U-18 Men’s Championship. With the loss, Taiwan has to win the next two games versus China and Hong Kong to advance to the semifinals.

Taiwan is placed in the same group with China, Lebanon and Hong Kong in the second round. Kazakhstan, Iran, India and Korea are in the other group.

Taiwan beat Japan, 92-81, in the second prelim following a 116-76 blowout win over Kyrgyzstan. In the last prelim, Taiwan couldn’t contain Iran’s 7-6 big man Jaber Rouzbahani, who tallied 31 points, and lost the game, 56-76. Taiwan finished 2-1 in the preliminary round.

Paul Coughter, head coach of Lebanon Junior NT, coached three years in Taiwan and was the most successful coach in Taiwanese pro ball history. Coughter led Hong-kuo Elephants to three consecutive championships in now-defunct pro league CBA(Chinese Basketball Alliance).

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Asian U-18: Taiwan routs Kyrgysztan 116-76

Taiwan Junior NT made the opening victory a blowout. Using a full-court press for almost 40 minutes, Taiwan didn't give Kyrgysztan, which dressed only eight players, any chance. Taiwan Junior opened up the game with a 12-1 run late in the first quarter and led 52-34 at halftime. The final score was 116-76. Taiwan Junior NT will have a one-day rest before playing Japan on Sep. 16th.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Taiwan Basketball Notes

Yulon to play in Brunei tournament
Yulon recruits Dacin forward Tien Lei and 6-9 import Alvin Jackson before departing for an international tournament to be held in Brunei from September 20th -October 1st.

A total of six teams from Asian countries will enter the fourth edition of the tourney. They are Yulon from Taiwan, China’s Shanghai, Philippines’ Red Bull and Purefoods, and Laguna from Indonesia.

Yulon starting center Tsun Wen-din and PG Lee Hsueh-lin will not join the team because they are currently in the U-20 NT training camp.

The six participating teams will play in the single round robin preliminary round. Top four teams advance to another single round robin second round.

SINA veterans signed by different teams
Huang Chun-hsiung and Hsiung Jen-jen, who didn’t re-signed by SINA Lions, have been signed by Videoland Hunters, formerly in the name of BCC Mars. Meanwhile, after a long talk with team management, PG Chou Jun-san re-signed with SINA for one year and will probably work in the capacity as a coaching staff member after retirement.

Taiwan Junior Women’s NT head for China
Taiwan Junior Women’s NT will go to China today for a 7-game tour in preparation of the upcoming Asian Junior Women’s Championship, which will be held in Shenzen, China from October 15-21.

Wu Dai-hao withdraws from U-20 NT
Citing recurring injury concern, 202cm center/forward Wu Dai-hao withdrew from U-20 Men’s NT training camp.

Monday, September 06, 2004

SINA dropped three veterans in controversial move

Three former NT veterans, Chou Jun-san, Huang Chung-hsiung and Hsiung Jen-jen, were dropped by SINA in the end of August as criticism flied buzz among Taiwanese basketball fans and observers.

Chou, Huang and Hsiung represented Taiwan NT during the last ten plus years and all have been among the most popular players in the nation. The surprising decision by SINA not re-signing these three shocked almost everyone.

In most people’s eyes, and in fact, all three are still capable of making contribution in the domestic league, namely the SBL, although they may be a step slow in international competitions.

Two of SINA’s five veteran starters – shooting guard Lo Shin-liang and center Liu Yi-hsiang – are retained.

It remains to be seen whether all three players will announce their retirement or not. Maybe they will play for other teams if being signed.

Chou Jun-san, at 173cm, is regarded as one of the best point guard in Asia. Not only he has been the most reliable starting PG in Taiwan NT but he also led the Chinese league CBA during his two years there.

202cm Huang Chun-hsiung, who can play inside and out, has been one of the most impact players on Taiwan NT. And he can still dominate the interior if he wants to.

Obviously SINA decides to enter the rebuilding stage with younger players and save some money at the same time.