Taipei Fubon Braves
2023–24 Taipei Fubon Braves season
Taipei Fubon Braves logo
LeaguesP. League+
East Asia Super League
Founded1982 (1982)
History
List
    • Chien-hung Men's Basketball Team (建弘男子籃球隊) (1982–1986)
    • Tsu-chiang Basketball Team (自強籃球隊) (1986–1987)
    • Tera Electronics Basketball Team (新銳/泰瑞電子籃球隊) (1987–1994)
    • Tera Mars (泰瑞戰神) (1994–1997)
    • Kaohsiung Mars (高雄戰神) (1997–1999)
    • Mars Professional Basketball Team (戰神職業籃球隊) (1997–2000)
    • BCC Mars (中廣戰神) (2000–2004)
    • Videoland Hunters (緯來獵人) (2004–2007)
    • Taiwan Mobile Leopards (台灣大雲豹) (2007–2011)
    • Taiwan Mobile Basketball Team (台灣大籃球隊) (2012–2013)
    • Fubon Braves (富邦勇士籃球隊) (2014–2019)
    • Taipei Fubon Braves (臺北富邦勇士籃球隊) (2019–)
ArenaTaipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium
Capacity7,000
LocationTaipei, Taiwan
Team colorsNavy Blue, Aqua, White
     
PresidentTsai Cherng-Ru
General managerTsai Cherng-Ru
Head coachHsu Chin-Che
Team captainTsai Wen-Cheng
OwnershipFubon Group
Championships4
SBL: 1(2019)
PLG: 3(2021, 2022, 2023)
WebsiteFubonBraves.com

The Taipei Fubon Braves (Chinese: 臺北富邦勇士) are a professional basketball team, that currently plays in the Taiwanese P. League+, since the league's foundation in 2020. From 2014 to 2019, they played in the semi-professional Super Basketball League (SBL). They have also been part of the professional ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) since the 2019–20 ABL season.

The franchise dates back to 1982 when it was founded as the Chien-hong Men's Basketball Team (建弘男子籃球隊). Owned subsequently by Hung Min-tai (洪敏泰), owner of Tera Electronics (新銳/泰瑞電子), the team went by the same name as the corporation for a number of years until it joined the professional Chinese Basketball Alliance (CBA) as Tera Mars (泰瑞戰神) in 1994.

As a professional club, the Mars was a powerful competitor to the dominant Yulon Dinos and Hung Kuo Elephants. In the 1998 finals, it posed the strongest challenge the "Hung Kuo dynasty" had ever met when pushing the defending champions to the brink of elimination with a 3:1 advantage in the best-of-seven series – although they eventually let this opportunity for championship slip away. Wang Libin (C), Yen Hsing-su (PG), and the American import Todd Rowe (SF) were the core players on this team; they were led by head coach Chung Chih-Mong (鍾枝萌), the so-called "iron-and-blood coach" due to his aggressive leadership style.

Before the close down of the CBA in 1999, the Mars led the league in wins by a considerable margin in its last regular season that was never finished. It remained a close contender for domestic championship around the turn of the century with a biggest frontcourt lineup Taiwan's amateur Division A conference (甲組聯賽) had ever seen. This roster included Wang Libin (6'8") and Song Tao (6'10").

The team's initial mascot, Mars, was derived from the Roman god of war and had remained in spite of several changes of ownership. It had not only carried the team through the flourish CBA era but also accompanied its members and fans in the midst of the financial turbulence of the late 1990s. Between the ownership by the Kaohsiung-based Hanshin Group (漢神集團) and that by the Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC), head coach Chung had to seek corporate sponsors on his own while his players spontaneously work without getting paid in order to keep their beloved team alive.

The Mars eventually became history following the takeover by Videoland Television Network in June 2004 when the team was renamed as the Videoland Hunters (緯來獵人). Subsequently, the franchise was sold to Taiwan Mobile, a major mobile communication provider in Taiwan, and named after the company's as「Taiwan Mobile Basketball Team」. In 2014, the team was transferred to Taiwan Mobile's sister company in Fubon Group and renamed the Fubon Braves.[1]

On 17 October 2019, the Fubon Braves officially announced that they signed O. J. Mayo for the upcoming ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season.[2] He becomes the most prominent player in the history of the Braves and ABL with his 8-year NBA experience during his professional career. The team once again renamed as Taipei Fubon Braves with agreement with Taipei City Government and moved the home arena to Taipei.[3]

Facilities

Home game of the Braves in 2021

Home arenas

Arena Location Duration
Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium[4] Taipei City 2019–present

Training facilities

The Braves' training facility is located at the National Taiwan University of Arts Gymnasium, which is opened on 9 December 2020.[5]

The Braves previously practiced at the Banqiao Civil Sports Center and Shulin Civil Sports Center.[5]

Roster

The Braves won the 2020–21 P.League+ championship

Current roster

Taipei Fubon Braves roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.AgeFrom
G 0 Taiwan Lai Ting-En 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) 70 kg (154 lb) 27 – (1996-07-22)22 July 1996 Fu Jen
F 1 Taiwan Chen Fan Po-Yen 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 23 – (2000-01-24)24 January 2000 Chien Hsin Tech
G 3 Taiwan Chang Tsung-Hsien 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 35 – (1988-12-27)27 December 1988 BYU–Hawaii
C 5 United States Chris Johnson (I) 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 38 – (1985-07-17)17 July 1985 LSU
G 6 Taiwan Wu Yung-Sheng 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 27 – (1996-10-19)19 October 1996 Sacramento State
F 7 Nigeria Ifeanyi Eboka (FS) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 23 – (2000-06-29)29 June 2000 SHU
F 8 Taiwan Chou Kuei-Yu 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 25 – (1998-07-19)19 July 1998 NTNU
C 9 United States Stephen Zimmerman (I) 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 27 – (1996-09-09)9 September 1996 UNLV
F 10 France Taiwan Steven Guinchard (HP) 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 30 – (1993-07-04)4 July 1993 Emmanuel College
G 11 Taiwan Hung Kai-Chieh 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 – (1998-10-07)7 October 1998 NCCU
F 12 Taiwan Lin Chih-Chieh 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 41 – (1982-06-11)11 June 1982 Chinese Culture
F 13 Taiwan Lin Meng-Hsueh 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 31 – (1992-10-14)14 October 1992 NTSU
F 14 Taiwan Tsai Wen-Cheng (C) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 38 – (1985-05-31)31 May 1985 NCUE
C 15 Taiwan Hsieh Zong-Rong 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 28 – (1995-08-16)16 August 1995 NTUST
F 17 United States Mike Singletary (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 35 – (1988-09-19)19 September 1988 Texas Tech
C 20 United States Justin Patton (I) 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 26 – (1997-06-14)14 June 1997 Creighton
C 21 Taiwan Tseng Hsiang-Chun 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 25 – (1998-08-08)8 August 1998 Fu Jen
F 23 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Brendon Smart (FS) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 28 – (1995-10-05)5 October 1995 Chien Hsin Tech
G 24 Taiwan Jian Ting-Jhao 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 80.2 kg (177 lb) 26 – (1998-01-16)16 January 1998 Chien Hsin Tech
C 32 Ukraine Ihor Zaytsev (I) 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 110 kg (243 lb) 34 – (1989-05-11)11 May 1989 Ukraine
F 33 Taiwan Tsai Zhen-Yueh 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 23 – (2000-01-26)26 January 2000 NKNU
Head coach
  • Taiwan Hsu Chin-Che
Assistant coach(es)
  • Taiwan Wu Yung-Jen
  • Taiwan Lin Wei-Hao
  • Taiwan Chiang Chih-Cheng
  • Taiwan Wei Wei
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Taiwan Jheng Wei-Syuan
Athletic trainer(s)
  • Taiwan Lin Wu-Chang
  • Taiwan Peng Yu-Ming (assistant)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import player
  • (FS) Foreign student player
  • (HP) Heritage player
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (AI) EASL Asian import
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured
Updated: January 12, 2024

Notable members

  • Chung Chih-mong (鍾枝萌) – 6'5", centre, coach; Chinese Taipei squad head coach at 1998 Asian Games.
  • Chen Jih-hsing (陳日興) – 5'11", point guard; star player in Taiwan in the 1980s.
  • Li Chih-chiang (李志強) – 5'11", point guard, coach; star player in Taiwan in the 1980s.
  • Tseng Tseng-chiu (曾增球) – 6'3", small forward; star player in Taiwan in the 1980s.
  • Chou Hai-jung (周海容) – 6'3", shooting guard, coach; star player in Taiwan in the 1980s.
  • Wang Libin (王立彬) – 6'8", centre; CBA (Taiwan) star player, one of the only two Asian players to achieve triple-double in the game.
  • Todd Rowe – 6'7", small forward; CBA (Taiwan) regular season MVP, 4-time scoring champions, shot-block champion.
  • Yen Hsing-su (顏行書) – 6'0", point guard; CBA (Taiwan) assist champion. Head Coach from 2015.
  • Song Tao (宋濤) – 6'10", centre; former CBA (Taiwan) star player, tallest player in Taiwan's Division A conference when he played for the Mars.
  • Chen Hui (陳暉) – 6'0", point guard; SBL assist champion, All-SBL Team.
  • Cheng Chih-lung (鄭志龍) – 6'3", coach; former FIBA Asian All-Star, former CBA (Taiwan) finals MVP.
  • Blackie Chen (陳建州) - 6’3", Current Vice-team leader of operations of the team, former forward/centre and National Team Member with Yen Hsing-su
  • Joseph Lin, Jeremy Lin's younger brother
  • Earl Barron, NBA Finals Champion of 2006
  • Jet Chang, former NCAA Division II Final Four Most Outstanding Player and played for Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012 NBA Summer League
  • O. J. Mayo, former NBA player

Season-by-season record

Chinese Basketball Alliance
SeasonCoachRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
1994–95Alex Tan1323.3613rdNot held
1995–96Lee Chih-Chiang2426.4804th03.000Lost First Round to Yulon Dinos, 0–3
1996–97Lee Chih-Chiang3129.5173rd03.000Lost First Round to Hung Kuo Elephants, 0–3
1997–98Chung Chih-Meng3020.6002nd34.429Lost Finals to Hung Kuo Elephants, 3–4
1998–99Chung Chih-Meng157.6821stSeason unfinished due to the CBA lockout
Totals113105.518-310.2313 Playoff Appearances
Super Basketball League
SeasonCoachRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
2003–04Chung Chih-Meng1212.5004th12.333Lost Semifinals to Yulon Dinos, 1–2
2004–05Chung Chih-Meng1812.6002nd12.333Lost Semifinals to Dacin Tigers, 1–2
2005–06Chou Hai-Jung1317.4335thDid not qualify
2006–07Liu Chih-Wei219.7002nd44.500Lost Semifinals to Taiwan Beer, 1–3
Won Third Place vs Yulon Dinos, 3–1
2007–08Cheng Chih-Lung921.3006thDid not qualify
2009Cheng Chih-Lung921.3006thDid not qualify
2010Cheng Chih-Lung1515.5005thDid not qualify
2010–11Cheng Chih-Lung1119.3676thDid not qualify
2011–12Chia Fan1317.4336thDid not qualify
2012–13Chia Fan1812.6003rd34.429Lost Semifinals to Taipei Dacin Tigers, 3–4
2013–14Cheng Chih-Lung219.7002nd57.417Won Semifinals vs Taiwan Beer, 4–3
Lost Finals to Taichung Pauian Archiland, 1–4
2014–15Otis Hughley Jr.1911.6332nd14.200Lost Semifinals to Taiwan Beer, 1–4
2015–16Yen Hsing-Shu1317.4335th55.500Won First Round vs Yulon Luxgen Dinos, 3-1
Lost Semifinals to Pauian Archiland, 2–4
2016–17Yen Hsing-Shu1713.5674th13.250Lost First Round to Taoyuan Pauian Archiland, 1–3
2017–18Hsu Chin-Che1515.5005th96.600Won First Round vs Taipei Dacin Tigers, 3–2
Won Semifinals vs Yulon Luxgen Dinos, 4–0
Lost Finals to Taoyuan Pauian Archiland, 2–4
2018–19Hsu Chin-Che2412.6671st82.800Won Semifinals vs Yulon Luxgen Dinos, 4–2
Won Finals vs Taiwan Beer, 4–0
Totals248232.517-3839.49410 Playoff Appearances
ASEAN Basketball League
SeasonCoachRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
2019–20Hsu Chin-Che98.5295thSeason suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Totals98.529-00–0 Playoff Appearances
P. LEAGUE+
SeasonCoachRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
2020–21Hsu Chin-Che195.7921st31.750Won Finals vs Formosa Taishin Dreamers, 3–1
2021–22Hsu Chin-Che1812.6003rd72.778Won Playoffs vs Formosa Taishin Dreamers, 3–1
Won Finals vs Hsinchu JKO Lioneers, 4–1
2022–23Hsu Chin-Che2515.6252nd72.778Won Playoffs vs Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 3–0
Won Finals vs New Taipei Kings, 4–2
2023–24Hsu Chin-Che–
Totals6232.660-175.7733 Playoff Appearances

See also

References

  1. ↑ "勇士的誕生". Taipei Fubon Braves (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Fubon Braves Sign NBA Veteran O.J. Mayo For ABL Season". ASEAN Basketball League. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "ABL》和台北市冠名合作 富邦勇士新球季以和平籃球館為主場". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 17 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "籃球》臺北市政府冠名相挺 「臺北富邦勇士」全新出發征戰ABL". The Storm Media. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 "台藝大新場館落成 富邦勇士有意進駐練球". Central News Agency. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
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