TPBL Abasi unable to lead team to promotion, CTBC DEA announces coaching staff changes
New Taipei CTBC DEA of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) failed to advance to the playoffs, marking two consecutive seasons without reaching the postseason. Following this, General Manager Liu Zhiwei announced that coaching staff changes are inevitable.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 00:41
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 01:01 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 01:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Rong-chen, Taipei, 6th) The New Taipei CTBC DEA of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) lost 90-96 to the New Taipei Kings today, ending their season early. General Manager Liu Zhiwei stated that after failing to make the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, adjustments to the coaching staff are inevitable.
The DEA, which missed the playoffs last season, made significant reinforcements during the offseason, bringing back Japanese-based star player Abasi, paired with quality foreign players like Marko Todorovic and Viktor Gaddefors, aiming for the championship title. Unexpectedly, the entire season was plagued by injuries, and even with a 1-0 advantage in the playoff challenge series, they successively lost to the Kings, bringing their season to an early close.
DEA head coach Momir Ratkovic, in a joint media interview, stated that Marko was unable to play in the second half due to injury, but everyone maintained belief and fought until the last second, expressing gratitude for the players' efforts. "It was actually very close (to the playoffs), but unfortunately, in these two games, we did not perform at our usual level."
With the DEA missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, General Manager Liu Zhiwei described this season as "arduous," stating that the management and coaching staff must bear the greatest responsibility. He pointed out that player injury management was handled cautiously from the beginning of the season, hoping that key players would be healthy for the playoffs, but the team still could not effectively integrate by the end of the season. "Coaching staff adjustments are inevitable after the playoffs."
Unable to lead the team to contend for the championship, Abasi described his season as very "up and down," hoping that this year's failure will serve as growth for the next season, "and that everyone stays healthy." Liu Zhiwei mentioned that Abasi possesses a sense of responsibility and ambition, wanting to shoulder the burden of victory and defeat, but there is still room for improvement in understanding the game. Continued refinement in the future might resolve the issue of excessive fluctuations (in performance). (Editor: Yang Chao-yen) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Rong-chen, Taipei, 6th) The New Taipei CTBC DEA of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) lost 90-96 to the New Taipei Kings today, ending their season early. General Manager Liu Zhiwei stated that after failing to make the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, adjustments to the coaching staff are inevitable.
The DEA, which missed the playoffs last season, made significant reinforcements during the offseason, bringing back Japanese-based star player Abasi, paired with quality foreign players like Marko Todorovic and Viktor Gaddefors, aiming for the championship title. Unexpectedly, the entire season was plagued by injuries, and even with a 1-0 advantage in the playoff challenge series, they successively lost to the Kings, bringing their season to an early close.
DEA head coach Momir Ratkovic, in a joint media interview, stated that Marko was unable to play in the second half due to injury, but everyone maintained belief and fought until the last second, expressing gratitude for the players' efforts. "It was actually very close (to the playoffs), but unfortunately, in these two games, we did not perform at our usual level."
With the DEA missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, General Manager Liu Zhiwei described this season as "arduous," stating that the management and coaching staff must bear the greatest responsibility. He pointed out that player injury management was handled cautiously from the beginning of the season, hoping that key players would be healthy for the playoffs, but the team still could not effectively integrate by the end of the season. "Coaching staff adjustments are inevitable after the playoffs."
Unable to lead the team to contend for the championship, Abasi described his season as very "up and down," hoping that this year's failure will serve as growth for the next season, "and that everyone stays healthy." Liu Zhiwei mentioned that Abasi possesses a sense of responsibility and ambition, wanting to shoulder the burden of victory and defeat, but there is still room for improvement in understanding the game. Continued refinement in the future might resolve the issue of excessive fluctuations (in performance). (Editor: Yang Chao-yen) 1150506
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.