Sunday, May 14, 2006

Liu Hwa-lin named ETSN head coach

Liu Hwa-lin, who has been ETSN's assistant coach in the past two years, was named ETSN head coach, local newspaper Min-sheng Daily reported Sunday.

Liu replaced Lee Yun-hsiang, who resigned after a 11-19 season and failed to lead ETSN to the playoffs.

The news was a surprise as rumors had been flying since February that Taiwan Beer assistant coach Chiu Da-tsun will take over ETSN next season.

Meanwhile, ETSN veteran Chou Jun-san will serve as an assistant coach next season, the Ming-sheng Daily reported. But Chou didn't rule out the possibility to play again because he still thinks he can contribute.

The new coaching staff will debut in Guanhu Cup Tournament, which will be played from May 24-28 in the eastern city of Hualien.

A total of 10 teams were invited to the short tournament, including all seven SBL teams and three foreign teams -- Spring Cooking Oil of the Philippines, Kyong Hee University of South Korea and Osaka Evessa, the inaugural champion of Japan's BJ League.

ETSN was the socond team making coaching changes since the end of the regular season. On May 2 YMY hired Hsu Chin-tse as its new head coach to replace Liu Jun-ching.