The EDA Rhinos claimed the first-half CPBL title earlier this week with an 8-2 win over the Brother Elephants, capping one of the most dramatic turnarounds by a side in recent years.
After suffering losing seasons in all but one of the past seven, forcing the former owner (Sinon Corp) to sell the team at a steep discount to EDA Group, the team has undergone such a tremendous transformation that they have taken even the most experienced observers of the league by surprise.
It is undeniable that the presence of former major league Most Valuable Player Manny Ramirez has contributed to the Rhinos’ success, both in terms of his on-field performances and his ability to draw fans’ interest, known as the “Manny effect.”
Yet that should not take credit away from the club for bringing out the best in a lineup that previously could not win consistently.
Picking up Hu Chin-lung and Kao Guo-hui in the off-season made the Rhinos the runaway winners at the negotiating table in terms of players who can deliver an immediate impact.
However, that should take nothing away from the enormous efforts made by skipper Hsu Sheng-ming and his coaching staff to motivate veteran hurler Yang Chien-fu and second-year right-hander Lin Chen-hua — whose combined earned run average dropped from 4.71 last season to 3.10 this season — as well as sluggers Cheng Jau-han and Lin Tsong-nan, who have a combined 52 points more than at this point last season.
“There is no doubt that [Hsu] can coach. He also has one of the most daring baseball minds around, making him very hard to face,” a source close to the CPBL said about the Rhinos manager, on condition of anonymity.
Hsu has won more than 570 games as a skipper with four different teams in the CPBL and earned the distinction of being the first coach to win three straight titles and the youngest to be named skipper at the age of 31.
Also worthy of mention is the Rhinos’ front office, who have upgraded the treatment the players receive, especially in terms of accommodation, as well as the team’s strength and conditioning program.
It all goes to show that the club’s newfound success is the result of a deliberate effort, rather than a lucky fluke.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
RSS