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East Asia Super League
SportBasketball

New Taipei Kings join East Asia Super League, days after officials sack entire Bay Area Dragons squad

  • Taiwanese P League+ outfit confirmed to be joining regional competition, which starts in October
  • Joseph Lin is part of Kings side, while brother Jeremy Lin is a free agent this off-season

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All of the Bay Area Dragons’ roster was released last week. Photo: Handout
Mike Chan

Taiwanese P League+ franchise New Taipei Kings have joined the East Asia Super League (EASL) in place of the Bay Area Dragons.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, the league’s CEO Matt Beyer said he was “ecstatic to welcome the New Taipei Kings to our inaugural home-and-away season and to grow our partnership with the P League+”.

The league abruptly sacked its entire playing staff last Friday during an online meeting, leaving the eight-team league, which is expected to tip off on October 11, one team short.

EASL officials declined to comment at the time, but sources with knowledge of the development told the Post that news surrounding the Kings’ possible involvement began to circulate about 10 days ago.

“The New Taipei Kings are focused on building a tradition of excellence and part of that is playing in the toughest competition available to us,” Phil Chen, the team’s owner, said. “We’re very excited to join EASL in the upcoming season to face off against the top professional teams from around the region.”

The Dragons had been poised to play in a tournament in mainland China this week. Photo: Handout
The Dragons had been poised to play in a tournament in mainland China this week. Photo: Handout

The Dragons spent one season in the EASL, reaching the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup in the Philippines and coming third at the league’s Champions Week, but there had been growing disquiet in the game about the EASL running the league and owning a team.

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