TPBL Draft: CTBC DEA Selects Guo Jia-an with Third Pick, Aiming to Boost Forward Strength

The CTBC DEA secured their desired player, Guo Jia-an, with the third overall pick in the TPBL rookie draft held today. The selection signals the team's intent to bolster their forward line with the addition of the promising talent from National Taiwan University of Sport.

Guo Jia-an, standing at 195 centimeters, was a standout player in the UBA university league. In the 114th academic year, he averaged an impressive 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. His contributions were instrumental in guiding his team, National Taiwan University of Sport, to the UBA championship finals, marking a significant achievement before his transition to professional basketball.

The TPBL draft order saw the Kaohsiung Aquas pick first, followed by the Taipei Fubon Braves, CTBC DEA, Hsinchu Lioneers, Taiwan Beer Leopards, New Taipei Kings, and Formosa Dreamers. Initially, 30 rookies registered for the draft, but the number was reduced to 28 after Wang Ding-jun, the top pick in the PLG draft, and Shi Lu-chi withdrew.

The Kaohsiung Aquas, holding the top pick, selected Tony Crocker, a player of American and Taiwanese heritage, who is considered a major signing for the league. The Taipei Fubon Braves used their second pick to select Wu Zhi-kai. Guo Jia-an's selection by the CTBC DEA with the third pick highlights his potential and the team's strategic focus on strengthening their roster for the upcoming season.