Chinese Taipei’s new generation stands at the ready
TAIPEI (2016 FIBA Asia Challenge) - Two years ago, Chinese Taipei surprised not a few people when they finished second behind Iran in the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China, but this time around the Taipei quintet will be among the serious contenders in the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge in Tehran, Iran.
Despite not having some of their iconic veterans like Lin Chih-Chieh, Tien Lei, Lee Hsueh-Lin and Tseng Wen-Ting, Chinese Taipei did well in 2014, winning four of their six games. Much of the same team is back this year, more matured and standing at the ready to perhaps do even better than they did in Wuhan.
Six of the veterans from two years ago are back in tow for the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge: naturalized player Quincy Davis, former SBL MVP Liu Cheng, current SBL MVP Chou Yi-Hsiang, Hu Long-Mao, Lin Chih-Wei and Lee Te-Wei. For sure, these six will be the team’s bulwarks this time around, along with rising star Chou Po-Chen.
As for Taiwan, better keep tabs on Chou Yi-Hsiang (#6), the Taiwanese LBJ haha https://t.co/tPoITB6OBN
— Enzo Flojo (@hoopnut) March 29, 2016
The rest of Chinese Taipei’s roster is composed of some of the SBL’s top tier talents like Chien Wei-Ju, Chou Po-Hsun, Chiang Yu-An, Lee Wei-Che and Hu Kai-Hsiang.
| Chinese Taipei 12-player roster for FIBA Asia Challenge | |||
| Chiang Yu-An | Chien Wei-Ju | Chou Po-Chen | Chou Po-Hsun |
| Chou Yi-Hsiang | Quincy Davis | Hu Kai-Hsiang | Hu Long-Mao |
| Lee Te-Wei | Lee Wei-Che | Lin Chih-Wei | Liu Cheng |
With Lin Chih-Chieh finally hanging his international career sneakers for good, Taipei will look to this new generation to lead the way in the years to come. Liu Cheng and Chou Yi-Hsiang are the dynamic dup tagged to be the team’s spearheads for the foreseeable future, while Quincy Davis is expected to continue anchoring their inside game. Lee Te-Wei, Chou Po-Chen and Chou Po-Hsun, meanwhile, are three up-and-coming big men who are also seen as potential stars for the team.
In 2014, Chinese Taipei won two of their three group games before upsetting Japan and China in the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final respectively. They gave Iran a good fight in the Final before ultimately succumbing, 89-79.
Chinese Taipei are now in Group B with India and Philippines. They will all advance to the second round, where they will play each team from Group A: China, Jordan and Kazakhstan.
The top five teams in the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge will earn for their respective sub-zones an extra berth in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup (formerly known as the FIBA Asia Championship).
FIBA
