Asian Games basketball: Taiwan’s new top earner says the salary spotlight brings no extra pressure

Lin Tingqian does not believe becoming Taiwan basketball’s top earner has added unusual pressure. The 26-year-old guard drew greater attention after returning home from China’s CBA and signing with the TPBL’s Taipei Taishin Mars.

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Every time there is pressure, but this time it is not particularly great.

“Every time there is pressure, but this time it is not particularly great,” Lin said of the attention surrounding his salary after joining the Mars. He previously played for CBA club Tianjin Ronggang.

Lin is preparing for his second Asian Games appearance. He said Taiwan’s fourth-place finish last time left him disappointed, and he hopes the team can reach the podium in Nagoya. “We hope to achieve a better result this time,” he said, adding that teammates from different age groups and generations could create a new spark within the team.

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We hope to achieve a better result this time.

Lin also recalled his important three-pointer against South Korea in the World Cup qualifier in July. He did not play in the Jones Cup, when Taiwan’s men’s team struggled for momentum. During training, captain Chen Ying-chun called on the squad to use the Asian Games to restore the national team’s reputation and “play our own style.”

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Play our own style.

Taiwan has been drawn with Iran, Jordan and Qatar, three strong West Asian opponents, in what outside observers have called a “group of death.” Lin acknowledged the challenge posed by the opponents’ size, but said the team would focus on preparation. “We will do what we can, prepare well in scouting and technique, and face each game with a calm mind,” he said.

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We will do what we can, prepare well in scouting and technique, and face each game with a calm mind.