Sunday, November 23, 2008

Dmedia changes ownership

The name dmedia Numen was in the past as the team has been taken over by two local companies and will be renamed after the the name of its primary sponsor KKL -- Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (KKL) Inc., said Numen team management according to a local newspaper report.

The ownership change took place amid a baseball game fixing scandal which is still under investigation and involves dmedia's mother company.

Dmedia became the first corporate to own professional teams in Taiwan's basketball and baseball leagues after purchasing a team in Taiwan's pro baseball league CPBL and renamed the team dmedia T-Rex in February.

The CPBL expelled dmedia T-Rex in late October after allegations of game fixing and gangster involvement. Organized crime took over the team earlier last year and used cash bribes and threats against players before the games in order to reap gambling profits, prosecutors said.

Word is that prosecutors were also suspicious of dmedia Numen's possible involvement of game-fixing. Numen management denied all the allegations however.

KKL is a highly successful semi state-owned liquor company in Kinmen, an outlying island located very near China's southeast coast but is controlled by Taiwan government. Kaoliang, the Chinese word for sorghum, sells so well that the distillery generates an annual revenue of close to US$70 million for the county government.

Hongya International Inc. and De-heng Marketing firm took over dmedia management, Chinese-version newspaper Liberty Times reported.

It's not clear whether KKL will keep NUMEN as the team nickname. I think they will find a new one.

Anyway, KKL will be a brand new team next season and actually weaker as it lost its top two scorers -- import Jonathan Sanders and Ouyang Ching-heng. Sanders left Taiwan and Ouyang signed with Taiwan Mobile.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Chang sparks BYUH in upset win over defending NCAA Div-II champ

Jet Chang did not start in his first college game, but he made sure he made a difference every time he stepped on the court all through out his basketball career. The 6-3 freshman came off the bench and scored 10 first-half points to spark BYU-Hawaii to a upset win over Winona State, the defending NCAA Div-II champion.

Read the game report from BYUH website:

Seasiders Open with Win Over Defending Champs

Laie, HI—The Brigham Young University Hawaii men’s basketball team opened the season with an exciting, 78-76 victory over defending NCAA II champion Winona State tonight before an energized crowd in the Cannon Activities Center.  Junior center Lucas Alves, the Pacific West Conference pre-season Player of the Year, lived up to the billing by scoring 27 points and pulling down 12 rebounds to lead the Seasiders to the win.

BYU–Hawaii, ranked 23 in the nation in the pre-season, started slowly against the ninth-ranked Warriors and trailed by nine points, 24-15, midway through the opening period.  But freshman Tsung-Hsien (Jet) Chang came off the bench to help spark a BYU–Hawaii rally by scoring all ten of his points in the first half.  Alves and senior Jermaine Odjegba also hit key shots as the Seasiders rallied to tie the game 33-33 on a resounding dunk by Alves.  After the teams exchanged leads the squads went into halftime knotted up at 39-39.

The teams battled through several ties and lead changes in the second half, with neither team leading by more than four points, until senior Trenson Akana hit a three-pointer to give BYU–Hawaii the lead for good with just under five minutes to play in the game.  An Alves free throw, a put-back by senior Nathan Sims, and a pair of charity shots by Odjegba put the Seasiders on top 74-68 with 3:05 to play but the Warriors battled back.  Winona State’s David Johnson sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a jumper from BYU–Hawaii’s A.J. Reilly to make it a two-point game.  J.R. Buensuceso hit one of two free throws for the Seasiders with 1:16 to play but the Warrior’s Ben Fischer hit a pair from the line to bring Winona State within one at 77-76 with 20 seconds remaining.  The Seasiders then missed a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left to give the Warriors a chance to win the game with the last shot.  Following a timeout with eight seconds on the clock, Fischer attempted to drive the lane but lost the ball out of bounds with three seconds to play.  Reilly was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and hit the second of two free throws with 1.5 seconds left.  A desperation half-court heave by Johnson was off the mark at the buzzer.

In addition to his scoring and rebounding, Alves added three steals and two blocks.  He shot 8-14 from the field despite being double and triple-teamed all game.  Odjegba finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks for the Seasiders and Akana scored 11 points, including three three-pointers.  Chang hit double figures with his ten first-half points.  Buensuceso and Reilly each finished with four assists for the Seasiders.

Johnson led Winona State, now 1-1 for the season, with 21 points.  Travis Whipple had 14 and Joel Armstrong ten for the Warriors.  Fischer finished with ten assists and four steals and Curtrel Robinson got six rebounds.

BYU–Hawaii and Winona State will face each other again on Thursday night in Laie at 7:30 pm.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Jet Chang to make U.S. college debut

Chang Tsung-hsien, one of the most physically gifted Taiwanese players in years, is scheduled to play his first game in the U.S. NCAA. The 6-3 Chang, nicknamed "Jet", is currently a freshman guard in BYU-Hawaii.

BYU-Hawaii will open the regular season on November 18th in Laie against defending NCAA II champion Winona State at 7:30 pm.  The same two teams will meet two nights later at the same time and place for a second game. The Seasiders made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" last season while Winona State has won two of the last three NCAA II titles and finished second in between the two crowns.

Following high school graduation, Chang briefly played for German team BG Goettingen II in 2007 before moving to North America this year.

Chang followed the footstep of Wu Tai-hao, who played for the Seasiders from 2005-07. The 6-9 forward-center helped BYUH to a 20-8 record in the 2006-07 season and an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance. Wu averaged 10.6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game in 2006-07, his sophomore season, up from 8.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 2005-06 when he was named Freshman of the Year in the Pacific West Conference (PWC).

Wu left BYUH after his sophomore season and returned to Taiwan to play for ETSN Antelopes. One year later he signed with Taiwan Beer and led the team to the SBL title.

BYUH has been known for recruiting Asian players. Former Phoenix Sun Yuta Tabuse, a Japanese guard, also played for the school before Wu.

Check out BYHU Men's Basketball website at http://sports.byuh.edu/Mens_Basketball

Solid showing for Yang Yu-ming in Chinese league debut

1426321749 Yang Yu-ming had 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in his debut with CBA's Jilin Northeast Tigers, a 23-point loss to Shanxi, and made a rare start at point guard in his first game in the Chinese League, China Times reported.

Yang, who played 39 minutes Monday night, is one of three Taiwanese players -- all of them are expected to play as point guards -- playing in China this season. Wang Shin-kai, who played for Yunnan last year, is back with the team again and Sun Hwan-bo plays for the expansion team Shaanxi.

Sun had 2 points and 2 steals in 6 minutes as the third point guard while Wang went scoreless in 17 minutes.

Yang spent last season with Dacin Tigers of Taiwan's Super Basketball League but decided to try his luck in China as the former NT shooter lost his starting role on the team and played mostly as a substitute.

Wang joined Taiwan Beer late last season and helped TB to win its second straight SBL title in May.

(Photo source: China Times)

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dacin did not sign Roberts

Kudos to the anonymous who left a comment on my previous post and reminded me that Dacin did not sign Rolan Roberts. My bad. After checking up the news, I found out that the anonymous was correct. Dacin released Roberts after a three-day workout, saying that the 30-year-old forward did not meet the team’s defense-first priority.

Dacin head coach Chiu Da-tsun said that the team will keep looking for import player.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Rolan Roberts profile

(199-F/C-78) USA, agent: Warren Chris
250lbs / 115kg
Birthdate: April 24, 1978 (Baltimore, MD)

Career:
Woodbridge, VA
1997-1998: Virginia Tech (NCAA) 27g 13.6ppg 6.3rpg 0.8apg 2.2bpg
1998-1999: Virginia Tech (NCAA) 28g 14.1ppg 6.5rpg 1.2apg 2.0bpg
1999-2000: Virginia Tech (NCAA) 20g 13.1ppg 6.4rpg 1.7apg 1.7bpg
2000-2001: sat out
2001-2002: S.Illinois (NCAA): 33 games:  13.8 ppg,7.1rpg, 1.6apg
2002: Drafted by St.Louis Sky Hawks 4rd(39))
2002: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
2002: July: Orlando Summer League (Indiana Pacers team)
2002: July: Shaw's Pro Summer League (Washington Wizards team)
2002: Drafted by Idaho Stampede (CBA,5thd round (34))
2002-2003: In Oct.'02 signed at Besiktas Istanbul (TUR-D1): 10 games: 15.6ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.2apg, 1.9bpg, 1.2spg: left in Jan.'03 due to personal problems, then joined Villa Duarte de Calero (DOM-District National), but in March '03 signed 1-month contract with Vichy Auvergne (FRA-ProA): 11games: 14.0ppg, 11.4rpg, 1.4apg
2003-2004: North Charleston Lowgators (NBDL, starting five): 46 games: 9.2ppg, 6.1rpg, 0.7apg, 0.9spg
2004-2005: In Oct.'04 signed at Anjou Basket Club Angers (FRA-ProB): 2 games: 21.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.5apg, 2.0bpg, released next month, then joined Sydney Kings (AUS-NBL): 23 games: 16.4ppg, 9.1rpg, 1.2apg, Blocks-5(1.7bpg), in Apr.'05 agreed terms with Villaggio Solidago Livorno (Italy-SerieA): 7 games: 10.6ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 57.1%
2005-2006: Sydney Kings (AUS-NBL): 22 games: 12.5ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.8apg, blocks-3(1.4bpg), FG: 51%, FT: 45%got injured in Dec.'05 after trying to dunk the ball at the All-Star Game, the injury required a shoulder surgery and missed the rest of the season
2006-2007: In Nov.'06 signed at ALM Evreux Basket (FRA-ProB, starting five): 28 games: 15.1ppg, Reb-4(8.0), 1.3apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-2(1.4), FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 11.1%, FT: 54.8%
2007-2008: Limoges CSP Elite (FRA-ProB): 15 games: 10.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 56.8%, FT: 52.3%, in Jan.'08 moved to ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (FRA-ProA): French League: 17 games: 4.3ppg, 3.3rpg; ULEB Cup: 4 games: 5.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, 1.0bpg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awards/Achievements:
NCAA Sweet 16 -02
Third Team All-Atlantic 10 -00
All-Portsmouth Invitational Tournament Consolation Team -01
All-MVC Defensive Player of the Year -02
MVC All-Defense Team -02
All-MVC Newcomer of the Year -02
MVC All-Newcomer Team -02
All-MVC 1st Team -02
MVC Regular Season Champion -02
MVC Tournament Finalist -02
All-NBDL Honorable Mention -04
NBDL Regular Season Runner-Up -04
NBDL Semifinals -04
Australian NBL Champion -05
Australian NBL All-Star Game -06 (DNP-injured)

New -- and the only -- import player in 08-09 SBL season

C97b0940 Once again, sorry for the late posting. I have been extremely busy in the past month. Anyway, if the China Times story is correct, 6-6 forward Rolan Roberts will become the only import player in the SBL next season.

Dacin Tigers is expected to sign the 30-years-old former Salukis, who played in Turkey, France and Australia, China Times reported, saying that Roberts will be the only import in the league as no other teams plan to hire import players due to limited budget. Roberts is expected to get monthly salary of close to US$ 10,000, the newspaper reported.

Roberts has a personal website at http://www.rolanroberts.tv

At the same time, Jonathan Sanders, who have been in the Taiwanese league for two years, announced in his personal blog that he has decided to retire from basketball at an young age of 27. Sanders said Dacin Tigers has negotiated with him for a contract in the upcoming season but the deal did not go through.

The 6-6 forward was named to All-SBL team twice in two years -- 2006-07 with Videoland Hunters and 2007-08 with Dmedia Numens. In both seasons Sanders posted monster numbers, led his teams to the playoffs and was hot MVP candidates. However, he failed to win the prestigious award both times, which in my views was ridiculous and reflected the injustice among Taiwanese media voters.

176px-Jonsanders2profileimage Sanders averaged 23.5 points and 16.3 rebounds in 2006-07 and turned in 21.3 points, 16.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in 2007-08. And those numbers were not enough to get him a MVP. Wow.

I have repeated many times here about the crazy system the SBL has implemented here. The rule allowed only non-playoff teams to hire imports. The hiring is not mandatory though. Non-playoff teams can decide whether they're interested in signing imports.

The crazy thing here is that import players who play hard for his team and lead his team to the playoffs will lose his job the following season! Sanders is both the perfect example and biggest victim of this crazy system.

That said, I hope the experience does not leave Sanders with a bad taste in his mouth. Hopefully the playing experience in Taiwan will be a memorable one for him. Check out Sanders' blog here at http://jonsanders32.blogspot.com/

(Photo credit: China Times, Jon Sanders)

Asia Junior Women - Taiwan No.4 again

20081101-logo new Taiwan Junior Women's NT lost to South Korea 94-73 in the bronze medal game of the 19th Asian Junior Women Championship in Medan, Indonesia on Nov. 8 and finished for the fourth place for the third straight time in the tournament. The story came too late, I know. And I’m sorry for that.

For schedule, game results and reports please download the following files here. http://www.box.net/shared/84fbh7t70y

Background report:

Six teams in fray for title, six more seek promotion

MEDAN, Indonesia (FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women): Twelve teams – divided into two levels – will be seen in action in the 19th FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women starting at the picturesque capital of North Sumatra on Sunday.

The top three finishers from the week-long championship will qualify for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women, scheduled to be held in Thailand.

Six-time defending champions China, Korea – the only other team to ever win the title – last edition’s runners-up Japan, Chinese Taipei, India and Malaysia will contest in the elite Level I, which will decide the champions as well as the qualifiers for the World Championship.

Hosts Indonesia, making a comeback to the championship after a 16-year gap, are drawn with fellow South East Asian rivals Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, East Asia’s Hong Kong and Middle Asian nation Kazakhstan in Level II.

The top four finishers in Level I will be involved in a semifinal knockout.

The top two finishers from Level II will play off with the bottom two finishers of Level I for a place in the elite Level for the next edition.

Both levels will witness an all-play-all format for identifying the semifinalists and the play-off participants.

Big time basketball makes an appearance in Indonesia after quite a gap and the FIBA Asia top brass are quite excited about the championship providing a boost to the sport in this region.

“I’m sure Medan will rise to the occasion and give us a successful championship,” FIBA Asia Secretary General Dato’ Yeoh Choo Hock said.

“We have had a very eventful year in FIBA Asia. Iran’s impressive showing at the Olympics, the successful resumption of the FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup and the colorful start to the FIBA 33 competition in Bali last week, are some of the top successes for FIBA Asia this year,” he said.

“Not to forget China’s excellent hosting of the Olympics.”

“Of course, we have conducted all our regular tournaments without any hitch and have raised the standards on that front too. Medan’s success will be the icing on the FIBA Asia cake,” he added.

On the competition front though, the question that lingers in everyone’s mind is: Who will better the East Asian quartet?

China, Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei have held a stranglehold on the top four finishes in the championship for almost the last quarter of a century.

The last time any team outside this foursome made the semifinals was when Malaysia made the last four in the eighth edition of the championship at Seoul, Korea way back in 1984.

China, Korea and Japan finished as the top three in the last edition at Bangkok and duly qualified for the 2007 FIBA World U19 Championship at Slovakia.

Both China and Korea have brought one player each from the team that played in Slovakia to spearhead their campaign at Medan.

Point guard Hyejin Park, who averaged 6.8 PPG in Slovakia, will hope that her World Championship experience will help Korea regain the title, which they last won in the 12th edition of the championship in Beijing in 1992.

China will counter the Park threat with center Zheng Bowen, who as the youngest member of the team in Slovakia returned an average 5.9 PPG.

Korea had finished eighth and China 11th as Japan finished 13th at Slovakia.

India and Malaysia, both of whom were promoted from Level II at the last edition in Bangkok, thus have their task cut out to dent the might of the East Asian stranglehold. Should that happen it will be a fitting finale to this year’s FIBA Asia calendar.

Rankings at the 18th FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women

1. China
2. Japan
3. Korea
4. Chinese Taipei
5. Singapore*
6. Thailand*
7. India**
8. Malaysia**
9. Kazakhstan
10. Hong Kong
11. Vietnam
12. Sri Lanka
Note: * denotes relegated to Level II. **denotes promoted to Level I.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia