NTUST Men's Basketball Wins UBA Division 2 Championship, Returns to Division 1 Next Year

The National Taiwan University of Science and Technology men's basketball team, on the evening of the 17th, defeated Taipei Municipal University of Education 70-62 in the University Basketball Association (UBA) Men's Division 2 championship game, successfully winning the championship and returning to the Men's Division 1 next year. Their goal is to enter the top 8. The university issued a press release today stating that in the Men's Division 2 championship game held last night at the Taipei Arena, the NTUST men's basketball team, with steady offense and defense and teamwork, controlled the rhythm from the start, showing outstanding performance in both offense and defense, bringing a perfect end to their season's efforts. NTUST men's basketball coach Li Yung-hsiang said this championship is extraordinarily meaningful, being the first championship honor since the team was promoted from the general group to the premier group in the 99th year of the Republic of China (2010), making it a landmark achievement. Li Yung-hsiang stated that the competition environment at the Taipei Arena is full of distractions for the players, but their ability to maintain rhythm under high pressure shows the team's long-term accumulated chemistry and psychological fortitude. "Winning has never been the credit of one person, but the result achieved by the entire team." Team captain Tu Po-hung, a fourth-year student in the Department of Business Administration, described his leadership style as more "natural," emphasizing mutual respect and equal treatment within the team, without traditional senior-junior systems, allowing every player to perform freely. The team always approaches every game with a "calm mindset," focusing on thorough preparation, and victory naturally follows. Unlike some sports-specialized institutions with complete training resources, NTUST basketball players are from general departments, facing greater pressure to balance academics and training. The team can mostly only practice from 6 AM to 8 AM, or after 8 PM. Li Yung-hsiang has long emphasized the "academics first" philosophy, hoping players can develop professional abilities while improving their skills, laying a foundation for diverse career development in the future. Facing the upcoming return to the more competitive Men's Division 1 league, Li Yung-hsiang admitted that the team's priority goal is stability, with an initial target of reaching the top 8. He expects players to continue maintaining discipline and team spirit, balancing academics and court performance, and creating a more long-term development for NTUST men's basketball. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150418