Taiwanese point guards to clash as Leopards face Shiga Lakes in preseason friendly

The TPBL's Taoyuan Leopards are set to host Japan's B.LEAGUE first-division team, the Shiga Lakes, for a preseason exhibition match on September 6. Leopards General Manager Yen Hsing-su stated the team will officially begin training once its roster is complete, aiming to use the game against the Japanese team to integrate new players.

The most anticipated aspect of the match is the duel between rising Taiwanese point guards Kao Chun-wei and Yu Ai-che. Both players honed their skills at basketball powerhouse Nengren Commercial High School and have represented Taiwan internationally. Kao Chun-wei, the TPBL MVP last season, averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. Yu Ai-che, who played for Shiga Lakes last season, recorded 7.3 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, ranking second in assists and fourth in steals in the league.

Kao Chun-wei expressed his excitement for the game, viewing it as an opportunity for cultural and stylistic exchange between Taiwanese and Japanese basketball. "It's a rare opportunity to hold such a match in Taiwan, and I'm thrilled as both a player and a fan," he said. Kao also mentioned focusing on injury recovery and planned weight gain during the offseason, reaching a career-high weight that has improved his physicality.

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It's a rare opportunity to hold such a match in Taiwan, and I'm thrilled as both a player and a fan.

Adding another layer of intrigue, the Leopards' new foreign player, Brock Motum, will face his former club. Motum helped Shiga Lakes win the B.LEAGUE second division championship in the 2023-24 season, earning promotion to the first division. "This is my first public game since joining the Leopards, a great chance to get to know my teammates and integrate into the offensive and defensive systems," Motum stated. "I have fond memories of my time in Shiga and am happy to reunite with former teammates and coaches in Taiwan. I will give my best performance."

General Manager Yen Hsing-su further detailed that the Leopards have scheduled six warm-up games before the league's official preseason tournament. These include the match against Shiga Lakes and another against the Kumamoto Volters on September 12. The team aims to gradually adjust the coordination between local players and new foreign aid through high-intensity practical matches to reach optimal condition before the new season.

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This is my first public game since joining the Leopards, a great chance to get to know my teammates and integrate into the offensive and defensive systems. I have fond memories of my time in Shiga and am happy to reunite with former teammates and coaches in Taiwan. I will give my best performance.