Hitech represents Thailand in 9th Zheng Chenggong Cup (PLUS PREVIEW!)

Hitech set out to travel to Fujian, China on October 21 to represent Thailand in the 9th Zheng Chenggong International Men’s Basketball Tournament which will be held from 23-27 October.

[อ่านภาษาไทย คลิกที่นี่เลยครับ]

The Zheng Chenggong Cup is an international tournament held by the Fujian Nan’An Basketnall Association in China. This year the tournament features a total of 8 teams as follows:

Group A:

Enerskin (Korea)
Fubon Braves (Taiwan)
Philippines National Police (Philippines)
Tong Whye Physical Association (Singapore)

Group B:

Hitech Basketball Club (Thailand)
Fujian Nan’An Select Team (China)
Malaysia Select Team (Malaysia)
Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (Taiwan)

Teams are divided into two groups of 4 teams and will play single round robin within the group. The top two teams of each group will cross over to play each other in the Semifinals. The bottom two teams of each group will cross over to play each other to advance to placement games.

Here’s the schedule:

…for those of us less fluent in Chinese:

Date: October 23
14:30 PM: Group A >> Enerskin (Korea) VS. Fubon Braves (Taiwan)
15:50 PM: Group A >> Philippines National Police (Philippines) VS. Tong Whye Physical Association (Singapore)
20:00 PM: Group B >> Hitech Basketball Club (Thailand) VS Fujian Nan’An Select Team (China)
21:20 PM: Group B >> Malaysia Select Team (Malaysia) VS Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (Taiwan)

Date: October 24
14:30 PM: Group B >> Fujian Nan’An Select Team (China) VS Malaysia Select Team (Malaysia)
15:50 PM: Group B >> Hitech Basketball Club (Thailand) VS Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (Taiwan)
19:00 PM: Group A >> Tong Whye Physical Association (Singapore) VS Enerskin (Korea)
20:20 PM: Group A >> Philippines National Police (Philippines) VS Fubon Braves (Taiwan)

Date: October 25
14:30 PM: Group A >> Enerskin (Korea) VS Philippines National Police (Philippines)
15:50 PM: Group A >> Fubon Braves (Taiwan)  VS Tong Whye Physical Association (Singapore)
19:00 PM: Group B >> Malaysia Select Team (Malaysia) VS Hitech Basketball Club (Thailand)
20:20 PM: Group B >>  Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (Taiwan) VS Fujian Nan’An Select Team (China)

Date: October 26
14:30 PM: 3rd Place Group B VS 4th Place Group A (Game 13)
15:50 PM: 4th Place Group B VS 3rd Place Group B (Game 14)
19:00 PM: 1st Place Group A VS 2nd Place Group B (Game 15)
20:20 PM: 2nd Place Group A VS 1st Place Group B (Game 16)

Date: October 27
14:30 PM: Loser of Game 13 VS Loser of Game 14 (7th-8th Placement Game)
15:50 PM: Winner of Game 13 VS Winner of Game 14 (5th-6th Placement Game)
16:40 PM: Loser of Game 15 VS Loser of Game 16 (Bronze Medal Game)
19:30 PM: Winner of Game 15 VS Winner of Game 16 (Gold Medal Game)

(all time are GMT +8)

Team Previews

Hitech (Thailand)

With their withdrawal out of the ASEAN Basketball League and the rumored extended conference of the Thailand Basketball League yet to kick off, Hitech needed some sort of competition to keep their players fresh.

This Cup was exactly what they needed to test out some new things. Here’s the roster

Coach: Sopon Pinitpatcharalert
Coach: Piyapong Piroon

Sukdave Ghogar
Attaporn Lertmalaiporn
Bandit Lakhan
Nakorn Jaisanuk
Chatpon Cheungyampin
Montein Wongsawangtham
Attaphong Leelapipatkul
Patiphan Klahan
Wattana Suttisin

With Tyler Lamb and Freddie Goldstein headed to their other respective clubs in the ABL season, Hitech will have regroup and find an alternate identity after relying so heavily on the two Thai-Americans during the ABL and TBL. It also seems like Hitech will be trying Coach Sopon in leading the senior team after his success with the youth level.

Piroon has mentioned that this team’s purpose is to develop their younger players like U18 National Team player, Attaphong Leelapipatkul, and recent FIBA Asia Challenege National team standout, Patipan Klahan.

One notable omissions to this squad is obviously Wuttipong Dasom who has rarely not been on a Hitech roster barring any significant injury, which makes this absence an intriguing move. Other missing names are veterans like Kannawat Lertlaokul and Warawut Wuttikornphan and youngsters stuck in deep rotation like Suppawich Khukhandhin and Anasweeklaewnarong.

Hitech will have a size disadvantages against the favorites of this tournament, but the players should get valuable playing time and experience to prepare them for what ever competition comes up ahead.

Philippines National Police (Philippines)

I am quite proud about my knowledge on Philippines basketball as a Thai … but I have to admit that I know nothing whatsoever about this team.

Here’s what I could dig up on the web:

• Frederico Samson, who is on the roster, should be serving as playing coach. Samson served as assistant coach of the Philippine national team in the 1998 Asian Basketball Confederation tournament (now known as FIBA Asia Championship) in India. He has also handled the Vietnamese national team during the 2011 Southeast Asian Games and the Malaysia club Malacca.
• The Philippines National Police was not the first choice to represent the Philippines in this tournament. As latest as early September, there was still news going around that the University of Cebu Webmasters was in consideration and were looking to recuruit Junmar Fajardo, Brian Heruela, as well as Dondon Hontiveros to play as well. Seems like things didn’t work out.

… still don’t know what to expect from this team.

Malaysia Select Team (Malaysia)

It’s not exactly the regular Senior National Team for Malaysia, but there are plenty of familiar faces here.

The biggest star here should be Kwaan Yoong Jing (26 years old) who starred in the SEABA Stankovic Cup early in the summer. There were news that he has been contemplating retirement and his absence from the past two KL Dragons roster seemed to hint towards that, but his inclusion here might be a boost he needs to return.

Wong Wee Seng should be the one to provide their punch from outside.

Similar to Hitech, Malaysia Select Team should be using the exposure for their national team pool more than anything else. They could struggle in terms of size and physicality when they play the China and Taiwan teams.

Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor (Taiwan)

Hey look! A team I recognize that isn’t from Thailand or the Philippines! Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor recently played in the Merlion Cup earlier in September.

Phelps should be considered an upgrade over Marcus Melvin, merely because he plays more physical inside the paint. That should free up more space for shooters like Wei-Han and Wei-Ju.

Merely the addition of Phelps makes this team a favorite to win it all.

Fubon Braves (Taiwan)

Another Taiwan team! The Fubon Braves have actually been a bit more competitive than KKL in the Taiwan SBL, finishing in second place for the last 4 out of 5 seasons.

Let’s start out with their american import, Liam McMorrow.

McMorrow will have plenty of local talent surrounding him, but the more intriguing names are also the league traditional Taiwanese names: TJ Burke and Joseph Lin.

Of course, it’s not all about McMorrow, Burke, and Lin. The other Taiwanese players of the Fubon Braves should be able to hold their own … hence why I peg them as the favorites of this tournament.

Tong Whye Physical Association (Singapore), Enerskin (Korea), and Fujian Nan’An (China) probably have their own key players to boast about … but sadly I know nothing on them. You can check out the rosters here and if you happen to know anything about these players and teams please do share:

Tong Whye Physical Association (Singapore)

Enerskin (Korea)

Fujian Nan’An (China)

Make sure to follow the Hitech Basketball Club Facebook Page for continuous updates on the results!

Photos of information booklet courtesy of Piyapong Piroon