Basketball guard Chou Yi-hsiang (???), who plays for Taiwan's national team but has spent the past five seasons playing in China, is set to make his debut with the Kaohsiung Steelers in Taiwan's professional P. LEAGUE+ this weekend.
The Kaohsiung club has promoted the 30-year-old, 191cm-tall basketball veteran's return to Taiwan with much fanfare, highlighting his social media presence and hyping up his anticipated upcoming debut with the Steelers with a signing ceremony in Taiwan's capital Wednesday.
At the ceremony in Taipei, Chou signed with the Steelers and was officially given the No. 6 jersey, which he will wear Saturday when the southern port city faces the Formosa Taishin Dreamers at Kaohsiung Fengshan Stadium.
When asked about the matchup, Chou said he hadn't played in Taiwan in a long time and he was both looking forward to and nervous about it.
Chou, who has frequently represented Taiwan in international tournaments, had been playing in the Chinese Basketball Association since the 2017-2018 season, most recently with the Beijing Ducks from 2019-2022.
The Steelers are hoping that his addition will pull them out of their current slump. Their 4-14 record is currently the worst in the six-team league, and they have lost eight games in a row.
William Artino to return to GhostHawks: Naturalized basketball player William Artino is also likely to make his return to the hardwood with T1 LEAGUE's Tainan TSG GhostHawks Friday after returning from competing in the first round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan last month.
The United States-born Artino posted an average of 16.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game over the three games played so far during the qualifiers and is expected to boost the GhostHawks inside the paint.
The GhostHawks are currently last in the six-team standings with a 4-15 record and will face the Taoyuan Leopards at Chung Yuan Christian University Gymnasium Friday.
In addition, Dominica-born naturalized Indonesian basketball player Lester Prosper is also expected to debut for the GhostHawks Friday.
The 33-year-old, 209-cm-tall center represented Indonesia at the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in 2021, posting an average of 22 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists in 35.4 minutes per game in four games.
P. LEAGUE+ games: The Hsinchu Jko Lioneers will take on the Taoyuan Pilots at Hsinchu County Stadium Friday, while the New Taipei Kings will host the Taipei Fubon Braves Saturday and the Pilots Sunday at New Taipei Xinzhuang Gymnasium.
The Steelers will host the Dreamers Saturday and the Lioneers Sunday at Kaohsiung Fengshan Stadium.
T1 LEAGUE games: The Leopards will match up with the GhostHawks on their homecourt Friday, while the Kaohsiung Aquas will host the TaiwanBeer HeroBears Saturday and the GhostHawks Sunday at Kaohsiung Arena.
Taichung Wagor Suns will host the New Taipei CTBC DEA Saturday and the Leopards Sunday at National Taiwan University of Sport Gymnasium.
ASEAN Basketball League to return with Bali 3x3 event in April: According to Singaporean daily broadsheet newspaper The Straits Times, the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) is to make a return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ABL will initially return with the ABL 3x3 Cup on April 16-17 and a 5-on-5 friendly tournament on April 19-24 in Bali, The Straits Times said Thursday.
However, the Braves, which hold the rights to compete in the regional basketball league, will not compete in the tournament in April, the club told CNA Friday.
Meanwhile, the Dreamers, which also usually competes in the ABL, told CNA "For now we are just focused on our games in the P. LEAGUE+." In a follow-up phone call, the Dreamers said they had not yet announced their plans for the ABL tournament and did not disclose whether they would be participating.
The Braves lead the six-team P. LEAGUE+ rankings on the back of seven consecutive wins and a 13-6 record, while the Dreamers are tied for second with the Kings with both just 1 ½ games behind the Braves.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel