SBL coaching carousel began as many familiar faces returned to the SBL coaching fraternity recently.
Wei Chen-ming, who coached Bank of Taiwan from 2003-2007 before being replaced by Lai Liang-chung, returned to his old team and replaced Lai as head coach.
BOT under Wei did enjoy a brief spotlight, when it gave defending champ Yulon a scare in an epic four-game first round playoff series in the 2005-06 season. However, the bank-backed team has been always one of the worst teams in the league.
Local media reported that only nine players are under contract with the BOT currently, which means Wei has to find as many players as he could before the season starts.
Six players, including forward Hsu Wei-sheng, has been released.
Wei was quoted as saying that he needs three years to transform a team and make BOT a team which is respected by its opponents. However, time is probably not on his side in the cruel world of basketball when every win counts.
Additionally, former Dacin head coach Liu Jia-fa is back with Taiwan Beer. Former Yulon assistant Lin Cheng-ming was promoted to the head coach position and replaced Chiu Chi-yi. Former KKL head coach Hsu Chih-chao returned to Dacin as head coach.
Transaction and rumors:
-- Point guard Wu Yong-jen and forward Cheng Jen-wei left Taiwan Beer and signed with Taiwan Mobile.
Cheng averaged 11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds last season with TB. Wu, who played for TM for four years previously, returned with his old employer after averaging a career-low 4.6 point and 2.4 assists with TB.
-- Word is that point guard Su Yi-chieh would leave Taiwan Mobile and sign with another team, probably Yulon or Dacin.
-- Wu Tai-hao, who spent last season with China’s Zhejiang, is rumored to be returning to Taiwan and sign with Yulon or Taiwan Mobile.
Taiwan lost in friendly in Japan
Taiwan NT lost 85-77 to Japan NT in a July 1 exhibition game in Tokyo, Japan for relief effort of the March 11 tsunami that had killed thousands of people in northeastern Japan.
Lin Yi-hui led Taiwan NT with 19 points, followed by Doug Creighton’s 13 points and 10 boards. The team committed 15 turnovers and trailed 45-27 in rebounding.
According to Taiwan NT head coach Hsu Chin-tse, Wu Tai-hao and Mao Chi-en injured their knees in the exhibition game, with Mao sustaining a more serious injury which could take a MRI for further assessment. Mao may have to sit out the Jones Cup and the Asia Cup if the injury is serious.