Taiwanese Basketball Team Eyes Early World Cup Qualification Against China

Taiwan's men's basketball team faces a crucial World Cup qualifier against China on July 5, with a victory guaranteeing them a spot in the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Head coach Mario Ohu-Jecic confirmed he will field the same 12-player lineup that achieved a dramatic 82-80 overtime win against South Korea. This consistency aims to leverage the strong chemistry and momentum from their previous performance. Taiwan currently holds a 2-3 record in Group A, level with China and South Korea. A win against China would allow Taiwan to advance independently. However, even a loss could see them progress to the second round if Japan defeats South Korea. The team held a practice session at the match venue in Goyang, South Korea, where Ohu-Jecic emphasized the importance of maintaining the successful roster. He acknowledged that while the starting lineup is not yet finalized, the core group's synergy has proven effective. The 12 players selected for this pivotal game are Chen Ying-Chun, Lin Ting-Chien, Abasi, Lee Chia-Kang, Yu Ai-Che, Ma Chien-Hao, Kao Po-Kai, Lu Chun-Hsiang, Chen Kuan-Chuan, Hu Lung-Mao, Sung Hsin-Hao, and Tan Chieh-Lung. The team's performance against China is critical for their World Cup aspirations.

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This is a good lineup, we haven't decided on the starting lineup yet, but we will use the same 12 players. This lineup has very good chemistry, and the rotation in the last game brought us important results.