The New Taipei Kings, champions of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League’s (TPBL) inaugural season, are to compete in the East Asia Super League (EASL) for the third consecutive year, the league announced yesterday.
The Kings will join P.League+ (PLG) teams the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and the Taipei Fubon Braves in competing against top teams from other East Asian countries.
“New Taipei is a proven winner and has reached the top time and time again in our league,” EASL chief executive officer Henry Kerins was quoted as saying in a statement. “EASL is the Champions League of Asian basketball, and with New Taipei, we’re adding another true champion. They’ve shown they’re one of the best teams in Asia, and we’re excited to see what they do this season.”
Photo courtesy of the New Taipei Kings via CNA
The announcement confirmed New Taipei City as the 13th team to join the upcoming season, which is set to feature three teams each from Taiwan and Japan, two each from Hong Kong, South Korea and the Philippines, and one from Mongolia.
Despite participating in the previous two seasons, New Taipei City would this year enter as TPBL champions.
“Given the recent collaboration between the P.League+ and TPBL, we are pleased to welcome the TPBL’s New Taipei Kings into our longstanding partnership with EASL and its upcoming season,” PLG chief executive officer Charles “Blackie” Chen said in the statement.
The Kings, who joined the TPBL in the off-season, secured their spot in the previous EASL season by clinching the PLG championship in 2023-2024. Their participation in the next EASL season had remained uncertain until yesterday’s confirmation.
On Thursday last week, TPBL commissioner Chuang Jui-hsiung confirmed that discussions were ongoing about a collaboration between the PLG and TPBL for next season, with a combined total of 10 teams likely to compete in a unified regular season and championship without a formal merger.
Also yesterday, the PLG confirmed it had received an application from the Hung Kuo group to join the league, following the recent disbandment of the Kaohsiung Steelers.
The league and the three PLG teams welcomed the application, but emphasized that “in the next two years, the PLG would prioritize the two leagues’ collaboration and adhere to the letters of intent,” expressing hope that “Taiwan’s basketball talent and resources can firmly work together.”
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
By the time Cameron Menzies finally left the arena on Monday, the blood gushing from the gash on his right hand had trickled down his wrist, part of his forearm and — somehow — up to his face. Smeared in crimson and regret, and already mouthing sheepish apologies to the crowd, he disappeared down the steps, pursued by a stern-looking Matt Porter, the chief executive of Professional Darts Corp (PDC). The physical scars from Menzies’ encounter with the Alexandra Palace drinks table after his 3-2 defeat against Charlie Manby at the Darts World Championship would be gone within a few weeks.
Manchester United on Monday blew the lead three times to miss out on moving up to fifth in the Premier League as AFC Bournemouth would not be beaten in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Old Trafford. United have lost just once in their past 10 games, but Ruben Amorim would be frustrated as more points at home were frittered away despite arguably the best attacking display of his reign in charge. Amad Diallo and Casemiro gave the hosts a halftime lead either side of Antoine Semenyo’s equalizer. Two Bournemouth goals from Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier in seven minutes at the start of the
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
RSS