Thursday, September 01, 2011

2011-12 SBL season to tip off on Dec. 17

SBL

A seven-team meeting convened by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association decided that the 2011-12 SBL season -- the ninth year of the semi-pro league -- will tip off on Dec. 17 this year and the player draft will be held on Oct. 7.

More details will be announced next week.

A number of regulations on rookies were approved. The minimum monthly salary for a first-year player will be NT$40,000 (US$1,379). A rookie player has to play for the team that selected him in the draft for at least two years before obtaining the free agent status.

Players who are not selected in the draft or those who are selected but are not placed in the team's roster will become free agents and can be signed by any team.

Seven SBL teams will also start negotiating with ESPN Taiwan for the broadcast contract for the next season. Taiwan Beer head coach Yen Chia-hua has been named chief negotiator by representatives of the seven teams.