07-08 SBL Preview: Dacin Tigers

Yang Yu-min (Source: ESPN Taiwan)

-- Last season: 17-13, 4th in regular season; lost to Taiwan Beer 4-2 in Finals

-- Key additions: Yue Ying-li (BOT), Yang Yu-min (dmedia)

-- Key subtractions: Cheng Chan-jun, Yo Yu-lun

-- Key changes: Liu Jia-fa, who has coached Dacin for 7 years and the major builder of the team's run-and-gun, three-pointer-shooting style, was relieved of his duty and replaced by former ETSN head coach Chiu Da-tsun.

-- Analysis:

The story for Dacin this year started on the sidelines. Former head coach Liu Jia-fa led the Tigers to the SBL Finals twice in four years and lost both times. The results obviously was not enough for the management, who happened to be no one else but the CTBA President Wang Jen-da.

Discussion of whether the president of a national basketball federation should own a basketball club has been going on for years. The answer is negative, of course. But Wang wasn't listening anyway, so that's another story.

Chiu is expected to transform Dacin into more of a balanced, inside-outside team rather than putting up a bunch of threes. In other words, Tien Lei will be asked to play more in the paint to complement his polished perimeter game.

Dacin did add two NT players in Yue Ying-li and Yang Yu-min. Yue and Yang are both scorers who should be able to share some of Tien's responsibility of carrying the team on his own. Yue's defensive ability and intensity is also a plus.

However, I still think Dacin has a problem with its rotation. As long as it plays Tien at forward, someone has to fill the conter spot. That player was Lee Fong-yong last season, who was almost always undersized versus opposing center.

Dacin failed to develop 202cm Lin Hwan-chao, who bolted for Azio then joined Yulon this season, in the past. 208cm center Kang Chao-hsiang also saw limited playing time and improvement. Expect Lee and young Tsai Jun-min to play the undersized center once again this year.

The small forward is set though. Lin Yi-huei has shown steady improvement at th three during the past three seasons. Chen Tse-wei, another three-point shooter who had a brilliant outing during last year's playoffs, will be the backup forward at 3/4 spot.

In the backcourt, Dacin will be able to put two combo guards Su Yi-chieh and Wang Chih-chun on the court. But Su suffered two consecutive left wrist injuries in the past year and is still under rehab. Wang, who also had recurring concussion problem due to a freaking injury last year, is also injury-prone.

Therefore, Dacin might choose to pair either Su or Wang and veteran shooter Yang together. However, that leaves another potent scorer Chang Chi-feng out of the mix. Dacin is simply overloaded in the backcourt. If everyone is healthy, Chen Ching-wen, Lo Yu-chun and Shi Chi-chen will have a hard time finding playing time.

Based on current roster, it will not be easy for Chiu Da-tsun to incorporate his style to this team as Dacin still lack of inside presence and defense. It will also take some time for the players to adjust to his style of play.

You can still count on Tien Lei to bring his 20-10 game every night, but Dacin will be the most inconsistent and unpredictable team out of this season's "Big Three" -- which means Taiwan Beer, Yulon and Dacin.

-- Roster:
(#, Name, Po., DOB, Ht.)
11 Chang Chi-feng F/G 1981.4.22 183
12 Lin Yi-huei F 1986.3.24 191
14 Yen Jia-wei F 1980.4.5 188
18 Chen Tse-wei F 1985.1.30 200
21 Cheng Shi-han F 1984.8.2 191
38 Yao Jun-jay F 1982.3.8 192
46 Yue Ying-li F 1984.8.9 195
1 Tien Lei F/C 1983.6.1 202
23 Tsai Jun-ming C 1988.2.10 198
25 Kang Chao-hsiang C 1987.4.19 208
81 Lee Fong-yong C/F 1980.12.15 197
4 Su Yi-chieh G 1987.1.28 181
5 Wang Chih-chun G 1982.4.23 182
6 Chen Ching-wen G 1987.11.4 185
8 Lo Yu-chun G 1988.5.7 185
13 Shi Chi-cheng G 1983.1.8 181
17 Yang Yu-min G 1979.10.22 180

News from Germany

This is a story by my colleague (well, sort of..) Kristian Santiage at Eurobasket.com Network:

Taiwanese abroad : Germany
Tsun Hsien Chang (190-F) of BG Goettingen II scored 23 points in his team's 92-73 winner over VFL Hameln in the Regionalliga Nord/West. He made seven of ten attempts from the free-throw line and is one of the leading scorers (21.2 ppg) in the fifth division in Germany right now.

Another Taiwanese played last weekend, Juefan Geiger (204-C-81) recorded only five minutes of playing time for USC Freiburg in the Pro B , Germany's third professional league. The 2,05m center is not seeing much playing time recently, after five strong games in the beginning of the season where he scored 10 ,12 and 14 points and looked like a lock on his position.He is currently averaging 6.7 ppg (54,8% FG) and 3.9 rpg for the team from the south.

07-08 SBL Preview: Taiwan Beer

Wu Dai-hao (Source: Yahoo Taiwan Sports)

-- Last season: 19-11, 3rd in the regular season. Beat Videoland 3-1 in the first round; beat Dacin 4-2 for first title in team history in the Finals.

-- Key additions: Wu Dai-hao (dmedia), Yang Chin-min (BOT)

-- Key subtractions: Lin Kwan-lun (dmedia), Wu Jui-ying (dmedia)

-- Key changes: None.

-- Analysis:

On paper, the defending champion improved itself by adding Wu Dai-hao, one of the best inside players in the league, and the streaky shooter Yang Chin-min. Wu and Yang make up for what Taiwan Beer desperately needed last season -- an inside force and an additional perimeter shooter.

At this moment, Taiwan Beer boasts a very complete roster with each position going two or three deep. That's something even Yulon doesn't have. But at the same time, it may cause the issues of playing time distribution and team chemistry, as evidenced in the blowout loss to Yulon in the last exhibition.

The expected starting lineup would be Wu Dai-hao starting at center with reigning SBL MVP Lin Chi-jay and Ho-Sho-jen filling two forward spots, Chen Shih-nian at point guard and Yang Chin-min as shooting guard. Imagine this: that could also be the starting lineup for Taiwan NT.

Coming off the bench will be veteran Lo Shin-liang, who can shoot the lights out when necessary. Hsu Hao-cheng will be the primary backup point guard who plays a lot of minutes if Chen Shih-nian gets a little hot-headed and selfish at times.

Wu Chih-yuan can either backup Wu or start at the four, depending on what the head coach Yen Jia-hwa thinks. Ha Hsiao-yuan can also be paired up with Wu as the "twin tower" to boost inside defense. Hsu Cheng-wen, who has perennial weight issue, always has five fouls to spend.

The energy guy will be Wang Jian-wei, who always plays like there's no tomorrow, and veteran Shan Wei-fan.

The overloaded frontline means Taiwan Beer does not care playing it rough anymore. TB was always had trouble last year when its inside players started piling up fouls.

Lin Chih-jay, Ho Sho-jen and Wu Dai-hao will be the nucleus for TB, who not only has to develop a system that works best for the threesome but also need to find shots for others. It's not going to be easy. But once again, it's better than playing short-handedly.

If the "Big Three" plays up to its potential and all players keep their concentration at all times, TB should be able to challenge a regular season title and at least make it to the Finals for the third straight year.

One thing to note. TB kept Yen Hsin-shu and Wang Shin-kai, both playing for China's Yunnan Running Bulls currently, on its roster. Yen and Wang could play for TB when they finish the CBA season in China. And Chou Jun-san, who will be primarily wearing suits this season on the sideline as an assistant coach, is also on the roster as a point guard.

-- Roster:
(#, Name, Po. DOB, Ht.)
6 Yang Chin-min F/G 1984.1.22 188
10 Wang Jian-wei F 1985.1.7 190
12 Lin Chih-jay F 1982.6.11 192
14 Lin Che-wei F 1980.1.27 195
16 Ho Sho-jen F 1983.2.15 196
33 Shan Wei-fan F 1978.3.9 195
95 Lin Che-li F 1981.1.5 186
11 Wu Chih-yuan F/C 1983.10.24 200
15 Hsu Cheng-wen C 1983.4.6 197
23 Wu Dai-hao C 1985.2.7 204
77 Ha Hsiao-yuan C 1981.5.15 200
3 Wang Shin-kai G 1983.10.1 176
4 Chou Jun-san G 1969.1.28 175
5 Pan Jen-der G 1979.9.18 175
7 Yen Hsin-shu G 1976.9.8 183
9 Chen Shih-nian G 1984.4.8 180
13 Lo Shin-liang G 1971.3.18 182
55 Hsu Hao-cheng G 1982.9.14 176

07-08 SBL Preview: Yulon Dinos

A reserved empty seat for late head aoach Chien Yi-fei will be Yulon's motivation this season.

-- Last season: 22-8, lost to Dacin 3-2 in the first round.

-- Key additions: Lee Chi-yi (TM), Yang Che-yi (TM), Lin Hwan-chao (Azio)

-- Key subtractions: Hsu Wei-shen (TM), Liu Shen-yao (TM)

-- Key changes: Chang Hsueh-lei, former China NT star forward who joined Taiwan's pro league CBA and has been living in Taiwan ever since, took over the head coaching duty following Chien Yi-fei's death. However, Lee Yun-kwang will still be the man who's in charge of all the on-court coaching and substitutions as an "executive head coach."

-- Analysis:

Yulon's quest to be the king of the hill again will be the main storyline of the season all year, as it was shocked by Dacin in the first round playoffs last year and failed to make the Finals.

Although Yulon still finished last season with the best record in the regular season, observers and fans could all sense that it was not the same team that was always hungry and hard-working. Well, winning three straight titles could do that to you. And even Lee Yun-kwang didn't deny that.

The sudden death of long-time head coach Chien Yi-fei, who had guided Yulon for almost 20 years, was another shock and at the same time a wake-up call.

Chen Hsin-an may have lost his explosiveness due to his recurring knee injury, but he is still capable of dominating the game. The problem is probably his mentality. He had a hard time working with teammates as a unit all season and was described as a loner on the court.

That hurt Yulon's competitiveness as a whole. Transforming Chen's mentality will be the top priority which Yulon needs to work on this year. And I believe Chen has heard enough criticism and realized that he could not do it alone.

Above anything else, the addition of Yang Che-yi and Lee Chi-yi strengthen Yulon's competitiveness. The arrival of Lee Chi-yi should be able to ease the burden of Tsun Wen-din, who had to handle the inside alone before. Lee brings the so-called "second height", his experience, top-notch defense and high post game to the Dinos.

Yang makes Yulon's perimeter shooting a more potent weapon but at the same time creates a long-jam at the wing position, where Chou Shih-yuan, Lu Cheng-ju and even Chen Hsin-an will be in the mix. However, as long as the coaching staff can distribute playing time and the players accept it, I don't see problem with it.

Lee Hsueh-lin and Chen Chih-chung are expected to handle the point guard position and both have been reliable. Lee Hsueh-lin should improve his on-ball defense though.

Yulon will be able to feature a big lineup and a small one. It can put Chen Hsin-an, Lee Chi-yi at forward, Tsun in the middle, and Lu Cheng-ju and Chen Chih-chung in the backcourt with four players above 6-5. It can also put Chen Hsin-an and Chou Shih-yuan at forward, Lee Chi-yi at center, and Chen Chih-chung and Lee Hsueh-lin at guards for a small lineup.

Aside from overloaded Taiwan Beer, this is not something the other teams can do.

The bench players are also reliable and competitive, featuring former NT players Wu Chih-wei, Chiu Chi-yi, Chou Hong-yu, all of whom can do damage in limited time because of their skills and experience.

Rest assured the three-time SBL champion will not lack of motivation this season. Last year's early exit was an embarrassment and Chien's death was heartbreaking. Yulon still features the strongest lineup and is the best organization in the league. They only have to put their minds into it every game.

-- Roster:
(#, Name, Po., DOB, Ht.)
3 Chen Hsin-an F 1980.7.1 196
8 Chou Hong-yu F 1976.6.15
9 Chang Yi-ming G 1984.4.13 187
10 Fan Yong-hsi F 1979.3.28 190
12 Chiu Chi-yi G 1975.10.6 182
13 Wei Yong-tai F 1978.10.23 193
15 Chou Shih-yuan F/G 1983.11.16 190
21 Yang Che-yi F/G 1978.10.20 193
22 Lu Cheng-ju F 1986.8.23 194
71 Lee Chi-yi F 1978.10.27 197
4 Tsun Wen-din C 1984.7.6 204
16 Lin Hwan-chao C 1985.4.18 202
32 Wu Chih-wei C 1976.7.31 202
5 Chen Chih-chung G 1977.3.2 180
6 Lee Hsueh-lin G 1984.1.31 175
7 Liu Jui-shen G 1983.7.29 170

Yulon pounded TB in last exhibition game

Tsun Wen-din (Source: ESPN Taiwan)

Yulon showed its best form in an 86-67 win over defending champion Taiwan Beer in the last exhibition game of the 07-08 SBL season in Jhubei, Hsichu Sunday.

Yulon, who was shocked by Dacin in last year's first round playoffs, was 14-for-32 from the threes and had 19 steals in the game, leading by as many as 28 points. Chou Shih-yuan had 13 points. Wei Yong-tai ahad 12 and Chen Chih-chung had 11.

TB was led by Lin Chi-jay's 14 points.

DMedia beat Taiwan Mobile 74-71 in the other game.

The regular season will tip off on Dec. 7.

Cathay Life takes 16th consecutive crown

Led by center Chiang Feng-chun's 19 points and 9 rebounds, Cathay Life beat Chunghwa Telecom 66-52 to wrap up the 2007 WSBL (Women's Super Basketball League) Finals 2-0 and took its 16th consecutive title in Taiwanese women's basketball.

Cathay Life head coach Hong Ling-yao said after the game that the team was considering to field two teams in the WSBL next season. The idea may sound a little bit crazy but it made sense because Cathay Life -- the richest team in the WSBL -- was simply overloaded with talents.

In the other game, Taiyuan Textile beat Taipower 71-63 and won the third-place series 2-0.

2007 final WSBL placings:
1. Cathay Life
2. Chunghwa Telecom
3. Taiyuan Textile
4. Taipower

SBL exhibition Day 2

Dacin edged Pure Youth (Source: ESPN Taiwan)

Yulon 84-74 Taiwan Mobile
Yulon opened up the game with a 16-4 run in the final quarter. Chen Hsin-an paced Yulon with 19 points. New addition Yang Che-yi had 12 of his 17 points in the 4th quarter. Lee Hsueh-lin had 18 points and 5 steals.

Taiwan Mobile, which committed 23 turnovers in the game, was led by Wu Yong-jen's 18 points. Hsu Tse-shin had 13 while Liu Shen-yao added 12.

dmedia 80-58 Bank of Taiwan
O-Yang Jin-hen had a game-high 22 points for dmedia and import Jonathan Sanders had 11 points and 13 boards. Point guard Lin Kwan-lun had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.

BOT dropped both exhibitons in consecutive nights. Chuan Hsiao-wen had 16 points and Hu Yu-wei had 11.

Dacin 71-67 Pure Youth
Both teams are now 1-1 in the exhibition series. Chang Chi-feng had 23 points for Dacin, which had 13 points from Wang Chih-chun. Tien Lei, who has been nursing a stress fracture in his left leg, only had 11 points and 8 boards.

Dacin head coach Chiu Da-tsun said he will try cutting down Tien's playing time in the early part of the regular season to see how the injusry goes.

Chien Jia-hong and James Mao led Pure Youth with 14 points each. Zuo Tsun-kai had 12.

A couple of TV captures of today's exhibition games:


Basketball stadium in Jhubei City, Hsinchu County


Yulon was determined to take the title this season for late head coach Chien Yi-fei.


Former Dacin head coach Liu Jia-fa worked as a TV analyst for ESPN this season.


dmedia Genies head coach Wu Jia-kuo.


Bank of Taiwan's new head coach Lai Liang-chung.


Jonathan Sanders, who played for Videoland last year, currently plays for dmedia this season.


Liu Shen-yao left Yulon to play for Taiwan Mobile this season.


Taiwan Mobile cheerleaders.


Surprisingly, dmedia head coach Wu Jian-kuo made Lin Kwan-lun his starting point guard for the new season.


Yulon had no problem beating Taiwan Mobile in the exhibition.


Former Asian star player Cheng Chih-lung made his coaching debut with Taiwan Mobile this season.

TPEC pushes win streak to 151 games

Hsu Wei-shen (Source: UBA)

Defending champion Taipei Physical Education College (TPEC) beat Chinese Culture University (CCU) 88-83 on Nov. 30, finishing the Group A preliminary round 5-0 and extended its winning streak to 151 games.

Hsu Wei-shen led TPEC with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Lin Tsun-ching also had 19. Chang Yu-lin added 16 points. CCU was led by Sun Huan-bo's 27 points.

Preliminary round of Group B will be played from Dec. 20-27.

Group A standings:
TPEC 5-0
CCU 4-1
NKNU 3-2
NTCPE 2-3
NCPES 1-4
NUT 0-5

Exhibition games kick off new SBL season

Lin Chi-jay (Source: ESPN Taiwan)

A series of exhibition games kicked off the 2007-08 SBL season Saturday in Jhubei City, Hsinchu County. Defending champion Taiwan Beer pounded Dacin Tigers 106-83 while Pure Youth edged Bank of Taiwan 75-72.



The matchup between Pure Youth, formerly known as Azio, and BOT was interesting as both team were led by new head coaches: Wu Jian-kuo of Pure Youth and Lai Liang-chung of BOT.

Hong Chih-shan made consecutive three-pointers and Chien Jia-hong added three free-throws as Pure Youth upset BOT with a 13-2 run in the last minutes. Zuo Tsun-kai led Pure Youth with 15 points. James Mao had 13 points to go with 9 boards and Chien added 13.

Chen Shun-hsiang led BOT with 17 points and Lin Chun-fung had 16.

In the second game, Dacin was no match for Taiwan Beer, trailing by 18 at the half. Reigning SBL MVP Lin Chi-jay had 15 points and 6 assists. Ho Sho-jen had 15 points. Newcomer Wu Dai-hao, who was expected to fill TB's void in the middle this season, added 12 points.

Dacin, led by new head coach Chiu Da-tsun, was led by Lin Yi-huei's 22 points. Two new Tigers were off all night. Yua Ying-li, who played for BOT last year, had 7 points and Yang Yu-min, who played for ETSN last season, was scoreless.

Cathay Life leads WSBL Finals 1-0

Cathay Life beat Chunghwa Telecom 79-51 Saturday for a 1-0 lead in the 2007 WSBL Finals, which adopts a best-of-three format.