Several NBA stars are set to take to the court in Taiwan this summer as New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang Gymnasium hosts warmup games for three national teams ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Taiwan is to host games involving Olympic silver medalists France, as well as Lithuania and Latvia in preparation for this year’s World Cup, to be cohosted by Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia, a statement released by the T1 League said on Monday.
The top eight finishers at the World Cup, which begins on Aug. 25, are also to secure qualification for next year’s Paris Olympics.
Photo: AP
The warmup games have been co-organized by Bros Sports Marketing Co and the T1 League, which credited the success of bringing the teams to Taiwan to the league’s two Lithuanian players, Edgaras Zelionis (New Taipei CTBC DEA) and Mindaugas Kupsas (Kaohsiung Aquas).
Both Lithuanians have been selected for the league’s All-Star Game on Feb. 28.
“Taiwan and Lithuania have been sharing a great bond, plus the DEA’s addition of Edgaras this season, so the Lithuanian Trade Representative Office contacted us around January to see if we were willing to host the World Cup warmup games,” T1 League secretary-general Edward Chang said.
Lithuania has long enjoyed a high status in European basketball due to its storied history, Chang said, adding that it had invited the other two nations to join soon after having the Taiwan side’s nod.
The schedule for the warmup games is to be announced on Friday, the statement said.
In addition to winning the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, France finished third in the last two FIBA World Cups, while Lithuania also made it to the semi-finals in 2010 and 2014.
Local fans will likely be able to catch a glimpse of NBA All-Stars, including France’s Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lithuania’s Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings) and Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis (Washington Wizards).
Fans may also get a chance to see 19-year-old Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, whose dexterity and shooting caliber has made him a wonder on the floor. He is widely tipped to be picked first overall in June’s NBA draft and has been described as “more like an alien” than a “unicorn” by leading all-time NBA scorer LeBron James.
Unicorn or alien, Taiwan fans might soon be able to find their own answers in New Taipei City in August.
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday fought through a second-set slump to post a roller-coaster 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match at the Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, raced through the first set, but completely lost his way in the second, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. Alcaraz regained his intensity and cut down his errors in the third set as a seventh ace took him to a match point that was converted when Dzumhur fired wide. “It was just a roller coaster,” said the second
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
RSS