In a Taipei version of “March Madness” basketball yesterday, Nanshan High School clinched the High School Basketball League (HBL) women’s division title, while Neng Ren Vocational High School secured the men’s division title.
The ever-popular sports tournament drew a capacity crowd to Taipei Arena — even President Tsai Ing-wen watched the women’s final with about 15,000 other spectators.
Tsai was joined courtside by Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung and Sports Development Committee deputy convenor Yu Cheng-hsien to see New Taipei City’s Nanshan High School edge out Tainan’s Yong Ren High School 65-61 to become HBL champions.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
Afterward, Tsai posed for photographs with Nanshan players as part of the post-game celebration.
“I came to the final today so that I could soak up the youthful energy and enthusiasm of these high schoolers,” Tsai said. “These young athletes gave everything they had, with such fighting spirit. In my high-school days, the games were not so competitive.”
“HBL is your once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Tsai said, quoting the league’s slogan for this year’s finals, adding that she wanted to “experience Taiwan’s own version of March Madness in high school sports.”
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
In the US, “March Madness” refers to a month-long basketball tournament in which top university teams vie for the yearly championship title. The event is one of the most popular US sporting events and captures top TV ratings.
In Taiwan, the HBL and its championship tournament are well-received by the younger generation and sports fans, with the games attracting larger audiences than for Super Basketball League match-ups, which feature semi-professional adult players.
The HBL finals, held in the Taipei Arena last year, but in Kaohsiung and other cities in previous years, are consistently packed to capacity, with TV networks paying princely sums for the broadcasting rights.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
By contrast, university games draw less enthusiasm.
Commentators have said that collegiate sports typically lack funding and tend to be neglected, as university students focus more on academics or on their social lives.
At halftime, the men’s final was tied 30-30, but sharp outside shooting by Neng Ren Vocational High School gave them a lead of 57-50 at the buzzer, allowing them to seize the title out from under challengers Nanshan High School.
It was the third HBL men’s title for Neng Ren Vocational High School and the second women’s title for Nanshan High School.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
RSS