Jones Cup 2005

The 27th R.William Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament 2005 (7/23~7/31)
All results of 'Chinese Taipei National Team':
23 July - TPE 73:61 JPN
24 July - USA 95:74 TPE
25 July - TPE 111:70 IND
26 July - AUS 82:95 TPE
27 July - TPE 68:66 RUS
28 July - QAT 89:84 TPE
29 July - TPE 86:66 KAZ
30 July - PHI 76:82 TPE
31 July - TPE 84:73 KOR

Really Suprised Me >
Tseng Wen-Ting(21) - 202 CM, 90 KG, Center(C)

He's really impressive in this tournament. I almost couldn't recognize him because he improved so much. Last year I was still blaming him. I felt unfair that he was chosen to be in 'Chinese Taipei National Team' instead of more experienced and old one. But he performed really good this year after their summer training in US. There is a long time that 'Chinese Taipei' don't have a good Center, because our players are not tall and strong enough to compete with foreign players. And there is also a long time that we don't rely on a Center in our strategy. But we could see today that Tseng Wen-Ting played an really important role. Being the top 1 in both 'Block' and 'Rebound' throughout the tournament, and scored 13 points per match on average, he is chosen to be included in best five players of Jones Cup 2005.

Fall In Love With You!! >
Lee Hsueh-Lin(21) - 175 CM, 75 KG, Point Guard(PG)

Well, PG is my favorite position. I believe that PG is the most important role in a basketball team. Lee Hsueh-Lin is another one impressed me in Jones Cup 2005. I fall in love with him!! He did all what a PG should do in a match. With good court vision and good passing, he controlled well of team's offense. If you think that he is only good at controlling the ball and three-point shot as a typical PG, you are wrong. He is also good at cutting into painted area and scores by a layup. He never fears about how tall the defense players are, because he got speed. Well, it's a little exaggerated, but I would say he's like Allen Iverson of 76ers.

'Chinese Taipei' finished second place. I'm really proud of them, though as I said before, Jones Cup is not a big deal. But, can you imagine that a team with just 189 CM average height and 83 KG average weight to compete with those tall foreign players? (ex. The champion, US: 200 CM, 88.9 KG) Plus there are three key players couldn't play because of the injury.

And there is one player I want to praise espacially: Chang Chih-Feng. He never listens to the coach. He insisted on training with the team and playing on the court despite he got many injuries. I think he definitely encouraged all players. This is called Taiwanese spirit - we never give up, though we are not tall or good enough.

(It took me a few days to work on this post, because I found out something...it's really hard to talk about basketball in English!! Why it's easier to talk about football in English?? Can't get it.)