TAIPEI (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Hu Long-Mao considers it an honor to play for the national team, and this means he cannot let those who are cheering for them down.

"Playing for the national team is a big honor," he said. "Only 12 players each year have this opportunity, so I have to give my best to the team. It also means a big responsibility to my country and family because I was chosen to be my country’s hope, and I cannot let them down."

Long-Mao also owes a lot to the national team for helping him advance his professional career. He was a standout for their junior team in 2010 and 2011 and finished his amateur days in Chaminade University in Hawaii before returning to Chinese Taipei. His exploits for the national side have helped him earn a spot in the Chinese Basketball Association for club team Guangzhou Long Lions, and this gives him an added push to impress.

"I will probably just be a normal professional player if not for the national team," he explained. "These national team experiences are so valuable in making me who I am right now. It's not just about playing against other good players from all over the world, but also having great chances to play alongside all the best players from my country, hoping to improve my games in every way."

Of course, it goes without saying that the 25-year-old Long-Mao also wants to give back to the passionate basketball fans in Chinese Taipei, who came out in droves to see them play in the first window. Both of Taipei's third window fixtures will be played at home, and that makes Long-Mao even more desire to notch two wins.

"Honestly, it felt great when they supported us in the first window," he said. "When I see the whole arena packed with people who are there cheering for me at every home game, it will just give me more motivation to push myself to give them the best. The cheering from my fellow countrymen will also help the game, bringing more excitement for us to win."

"I was chosen to be my country’s hope, and I cannot let them down."Hu Long-MaoHu Long-Mao

He knows that it will be easier said than done, though. They were outlasted by the Philippines in the first window, and they barely beat Japan in the second. Long-Mao is aware that getting two victories in the third window is a tall order, but his optimism springs from the fact they are playing at home and that they need to win in order for them to officially make it to the second round.

"Yes, definitely we can beat both Philippines and Japan," he said. "I believe we will fully prepare for them, and also prove it in front of our people. They might have a bit of an advantage, but we will be fully prepared as well. They will have new young players coming, and we will be ready for them."

FIBA