BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Settling some unfinished business will be the primary motivation of Taoyuan Pauian as they try to return to the continent's highest club competition through the upcoming BCL Asia -East 2026.
They're coming into the tilt, which begins on March 27, as one of the four holdovers from last season, carrying with them not just vast experience from that cycle but the disappointments as well that shall fuel their bid.
BCL Asia history
It's already common knowledge by now that the Pilots finished as runners-up behind the XAC Broncos in the BCL Asia-East 2025, and the two would go on to qualify for the BCL Asia proper being the tilt's two best teams.
But while the Mongolian champs enjoyed a historic campaign that culminated to a bronze, the same couldn't be said for the P.League + outfit, all because they lost one of their most important players in Justin Lu.
The star guard went down with an ankle injury during their opening game against the Changwon LG Sakers of Korea. They did win via rout, but it was indeed bittersweet as they lost the veteran internationalist.
Lu would soon be ruled out of the tournament, and that proved to be the beginning of the end for them. They lost to Al Riyadi, and to Shabab Al Ahli in the Quarter-Finals to bow out of the tourney with a 1-2 record.
To this day, fans and pundits alike still can't help but wonder how different things could have been had the talented swingman remained healthy all throughout the contest eventually ruled by the Utsunomiya Brex.
Qualifying path
But for Taoyuan Pauian, the past should no longer matter, and a chance to write a far better story is already on the horizon as they qualified for this year's BCL Asia-East following their conquest of the 2024-25 P.League+.
They did it in dramatic fashion, too. The best-of-7 series went the limit and the Pilots actually trailed entering the fourth, but came from behind to beat the Taipei Fubon Braves, 89-86, and snare their first league crown.
More than earning their breakthrough gold, the triumph also enabled the crew to complete their redemption story after settling for a bridesmaid finish behind Jeremy Lin and the New Taipei Kings in the previous season.
Players to watch
Lu earned Finals MVP honors in that titular series after firing 20 points in the title clincher and expect him to be at the forefront of their charge, something that he did extremely well during last year's BCL Asia-East.
He was, in fact, one of the tourney's top players, as proven by his per-game averages of 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. However, it won't just be a one-man show, as he has elite pieces around him.
Li Chia-Kang and Chen Li-Sheng help make up the solid local core, but Coach Iurgi Caminos also has himself a tried and tested crop of reinforcements, with Treveon Graham and Alec Brown leading the way.
And judging by their roster in the ongoing 2025-26 East Asia Super League, Taoyuan Pauian could also be parading towering big man Will Artino, who's been renowned - and successful - in this region.
The Pilots are situated in Group B together with the Broncos, a fellow Chinese Taipei representative in New Taipei Kings, and newcomer South China AA. For more on their BCL Asia-East 2026 campaign, click here.
FIBA