TAIPEI (Chinese Taipei) - Time goes by and as the seasons change, so do the faces of Chinese Taipei Basketball. The famed golden generation - the likes of Lin Chih-Chieh, Tien Lei, Tseng Wen Ting - are no longer expected to carry the weight of Chinese Taipei basketball at the international scene.

A new wave is on its way and one of the leaders of the wave is 26-year-old Chen Ying-Chun.

“Now that there are some changes with the more senior players slowly stepping down, we will have to find our style of play,” says Chen, as told to DongTW in an exclusive interview. “We still have physical disadvantages compared to the other teams, so we hope to play fast and play good defense.”

Chen, who also goes by Ray Chen, played in four games for Chinese Taipei throughout the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers and emerged as one of the team’s best players. He was the first overall pick in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) back in 2017 and has been one of the Guangzhou Long-Lions’ best players ever since.

Chinese Taipei will continue to expect his brilliance as they go through strong Group B competition during the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers. The games will be crucial as Chen hopes to help his team qualify for a chance to make his FIBA Asia Cup debut.

"It can be said that this group is difficult to play in,” Chen admits. “Facing each team, we cannot underestimate the opponent. We must prepare for each game. We must not be complacent and must take each game seriously.”

“Malaysia is a relatively small team, but we cannot neglect them. China and Japan are very good.”

"Even if Japan sends their younger players, it is still a big challenge for us. They sent their second team to the William Jones Cup 2019, and they still were really strong." 

"So for each game, we need to prepare and study the opponents that we will face each game."

It should come as no surprise that the 1.85M (6’1”) guard emphasizes preparation and study for the upcoming contests. He prides himself in being a good student and has a hobby of reading as much as he can to learn more and expand his general knowledge.

"I usually like to read books," Chen says. "When I read books, I can relax and think, whether it is about life-planning or other areas of my interest. I will try to understand the different aspects of life as much as possible. Books about successful people and how they lead their lives, thinking, financial management, investment books, mainly these. There are still many other books that I have been slowly catching up on."

 Chen doubles down on his love for study, saying that he would have been a really good student had he not pursued this path in basketball. He also shares a passion for baseball, but luckily for Chinese Taipei basketball fans, his love for the hardwood eventually won out.

“I used to love baseball,” says Chen. “Before I started playing basketball, I would play baseball with friends when I had time. Of course, it wasn’t formal; just stick and paper ball on the streets. I still watching high school games, if I have time.”

Instead of being an exceptional scholar or a baseball player, Chen has gone through leaps and bounds to become the leader for the new era Chinese Taipei national team. Though he is still relatively young, Chen is already preparing every way he can to become the captain that the program needs.

“I’m focusing more on communication,” says the star guard. “Although I am a captain, I am still young on the team. There are many seniors ahead of me, so I reached a consensus, to focus on my communication. If I am on the field, I will lead by example. I just hope to do everything best and first. In training, I hope to be the first person to demonstrate the first time. I can be used as a bridge between the coach and the players.”

Chen is already leading by example, following the footsteps of his senior national team stars who have made a name for themselves in the CBA. He’s improved significantly in each of his 3 seasons playing professionally and hoping his that experience can help Chinese Taipei as they aim to make it back to the Asia Cup in 2021.

Chen got a taste of playing against Asia’s best at the World Cup Qualifiers and he’s ready for more, all the way through the Asia Cup Qualifiers and hopefully up to the Asia Cup itself. He already has an eye on some players he hopes to matchup against (again) along the way.

“I want to play against the Philippines. They play with intensity. I like Jayson [Castro], who just retired from the national team, and Terrence Romeo. I like their style of play, so I look forward to [playing against them],” Chen says.

“In particular, I would like to go to the Philippines myself because their playing style is more American. Their attitude on the court is very close to those in the United States, too. They are very physical and have a desire to win,” he adds.

Even with his preference to go up against the likes of Romeo and Castro, Chen Ying-Chun admires all of his peers at the guard position all over Asia. As the lead guard of Chinese Taipei, he’ll have to go up against the best in the business night in and night out throughout these Asia Cup Qualifier games.

“Guards in China, the Philippines, Japan, and Korea have different styles,” says Chen. “Chinese players are physical, tall, and strong in speed and attack. The Japanese guards are fast. Although they are smaller, they have a different style of play. Filipino guards have very good individual skills. Korean guards are tricky, fast and accurate.”

“I’ve faced Yuki Togashi and [Terrence] Romeo before and I admire them.”

Not only does Chen have plenty of admiration for his current backcourt rivals, but he also has the utmost respect for those that have paved the way on the court before him. That is quite evident in his selection for his all-time starting five for both Asian basketball and Chinese Taipei basketball.

“The center must be Yao Ming. Then Hamed Haddadi, Lin Chih-Chieh, and Chen Hsin-An. I would hope to be the ball handler, but if not, I would pick Yuta Tabuse. After all, he has played in the NBA,” lists Chen.

“For the Chinese Taipei all-time starting five, it would be Chou Jun-san, Cheng Chih-Lung, Chen Hsin-An, Tseng Wen-Ting, and ‘Q’ Quincy Davis,” Chen adds.

Chen’s all-time lists for both teams is an impressive one, loaded from guard to center with immense talent. However, there is no doubt that Chen will be aiming to get his name considered as one of the best in Asia down the road alongside those legends. There are still some ways to go before he’ll get there, but fans will just have to stay patient.

Because Chen Ying-Chun is just getting started.

FIBA