TAIPEI CITY (FIBA U16 Asian Championship) - Chinese Taipei reached the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup for the first time in 2015. The country's cadet coach Wu Cheng-Chieh hopes his young team can learn from the last generation heading into the FIBA U16 Asian Championship.

Chinese Taipei went through Thailand in the 2015 U16 Asian Quarter-Finals before beating Japan in the Semi-Finals to qualify for their first - and only - U17 World Cup.

Wu believes that group of players from Jakarta 2015 did its part in helping raise the popularity of basketball back home.

"In Chinese Taipei, basketball is really popular. If the national team makes a good result, it often gets a lot of attention," Wu said. " people will focus on it a lot. So it is good for basketball development in our country."

Wu really would like this U16 group to have the same chance the 1999-born generation did.

"I wish they could learn everything from the last generation, getting the opportunity to play in the Semi-Final, and get the chance to play the U17 World Cup again," said the coach.

Wu himself said he learned from the experience of coaching in Zaragoza at the U17 global spectacle in 2016.

"I wish they could learn everything from the last generation, getting the opportunity to play in the Semi-Final, and get the chance to play the U17 World Cup again."Wu Cheng-ChiehWu Cheng-Chieh

"After the last time we played at the U17 World Cup, I learned a lot from the trend of international basketball. These experiences definitely enhance my teaching skills. So it kind of helped me a lot when I teach U16 players this time," the coach said.

Chinese Taipei's road to the U17 World Cup will start in Group C with Macau and Iran. The group winner moves to Quarter-Finals while the second- and third-placed teams will head to the Play-offs to determine the final four Quarter-Finalists.

The team in 2015 had two dominant leaders with Lin Ting-Chien, who averaged 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.1 assists; and Tang Wei-Chieh, who collected 19.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals. Wu will not have that kind of star leadership in Foshan.

Chinese Taipei Wu Cheng-Chieh would love to have a player like Lin Ting-Chien on his team at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship like he did in 2015.

"This time, we don't have much strength. What we could do is practice step by step. Only teamwork will help us get the victory," said the coach. "We don't have a leading player this time. In fact, each player has equal ability and skill. So what we are trying to focus on is 'teamwork', not 'personal skill'."

An added challenge for Asian teams starting this U16 tournament is the participation of Australia and New Zealand. 

"I expect our team to focus on every detail; never give up during the game; and try their best to reach best four in the tournament."Wu Cheng-ChiehWu Cheng-Chieh

"It absolutely makes a great impact on Asia's teams with these two teams joining us," Wu said. "New Zealand and Australia actually have a higher level than many countries in Asia, especially Australia. They belong to top level worldwide. Hence, with these two teams joining us, it also enhances the difficulty for other teams to go to the Semi-Finals."

When asked about his expectations for the tournament, Wu said: "I expect our team to focus on every detail; never give up during the game; and try their best to reach best four in the tournament."

And at the same time, Wu hopes, experiencing the great feeling the generation before them did.

FIBA