Brandon Gilbeck of TPBL Crowned Defensive Player of the Year for Second Consecutive Time, Leads All-Defensive First Team
The Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) announced its 2025-26 season defensive awards today, with Formosa Dreamers' interior anchor Brandon Gilbeck (Gao Bo-kai) once again earning the Defensive Player of the Year title. He also joins Kuo-Hao Kao, Kai-Yen Lee, Abass, and Lasannah Kromah to form the All-Defensive First Team.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 17:01
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Central News Agency
(Taipei, May 9, CNA reporter Chen Jung-chen) The Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) today announced its 2025-26 season defensive award winners. Formosa Dreamers' interior anchor Brandon Gilbeck (Gao Bo-kai) was once again crowned Defensive Player of the Year and, alongside Kuo-Hao Kao, Kai-Yen Lee, Abass, and Lasannah Kromah, was named to the All-Defensive First Team.
Brandon Gilbeck, a defensive stalwart who won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award last year, continued to play a pivotal role in the Dreamers' defensive system this season. His average of 2 blocks per game led the entire league, not only effectively suppressing opponents' interior offenses but also providing stable rim protection and help defense at critical moments. He received 17 out of 26 five-point votes from the judges, successfully standing out.
The TPBL stated that the selection for Defensive Player of the Year not only considers individual statistics but also emphasizes the impact on the team's overall defensive system. Gilbeck's presence on defense, whether in limiting opponents' field goal percentages, reducing interior scoring efficiency, or boosting teammates' defensive confidence, demonstrates the value of a top-tier defender.
In addition, the TPBL also announced the All-Defensive First Team and Second Team rosters. The First Team is led by Brandon Gilbeck, joined by Lasannah Kromah, the steal king from Taiwan Beer Leopards; Abass, the "Black Panther" from New Taipei CTBC DEA; Kuo-Hao Kao, a star player from Hsinchu Lioneers; and Kai-Yen Lee, a defensive stalwart from New Taipei Kings. This lineup achieves an excellent balance between perimeter pressure and interior protection.
The All-Defensive Second Team consists of two backcourt players, Wen-Ru Su from Kaohsiung Aquas and Ya-Hsun Hsieh from New Taipei CTBC DEA, along with frontcourt players Raymon Lin from Taipei Taishin Mars, import Malcolm Miller from Taiwan Beer Leopards, and import Marko Todorovic from New Taipei CTBC DEA, showcasing high mobility and versatile defensive qualities. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150509
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(Taipei, May 9, CNA reporter Chen Jung-chen) The Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) today announced its 2025-26 season defensive award winners. Formosa Dreamers' interior anchor Brandon Gilbeck (Gao Bo-kai) was once again crowned Defensive Player of the Year and, alongside Kuo-Hao Kao, Kai-Yen Lee, Abass, and Lasannah Kromah, was named to the All-Defensive First Team.
Brandon Gilbeck, a defensive stalwart who won the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award last year, continued to play a pivotal role in the Dreamers' defensive system this season. His average of 2 blocks per game led the entire league, not only effectively suppressing opponents' interior offenses but also providing stable rim protection and help defense at critical moments. He received 17 out of 26 five-point votes from the judges, successfully standing out.
The TPBL stated that the selection for Defensive Player of the Year not only considers individual statistics but also emphasizes the impact on the team's overall defensive system. Gilbeck's presence on defense, whether in limiting opponents' field goal percentages, reducing interior scoring efficiency, or boosting teammates' defensive confidence, demonstrates the value of a top-tier defender.
In addition, the TPBL also announced the All-Defensive First Team and Second Team rosters. The First Team is led by Brandon Gilbeck, joined by Lasannah Kromah, the steal king from Taiwan Beer Leopards; Abass, the "Black Panther" from New Taipei CTBC DEA; Kuo-Hao Kao, a star player from Hsinchu Lioneers; and Kai-Yen Lee, a defensive stalwart from New Taipei Kings. This lineup achieves an excellent balance between perimeter pressure and interior protection.
The All-Defensive Second Team consists of two backcourt players, Wen-Ru Su from Kaohsiung Aquas and Ya-Hsun Hsieh from New Taipei CTBC DEA, along with frontcourt players Raymon Lin from Taipei Taishin Mars, import Malcolm Miller from Taiwan Beer Leopards, and import Marko Todorovic from New Taipei CTBC DEA, showcasing high mobility and versatile defensive qualities. (Edited by Wu Su-jou) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.