Chinese Taipei came away as nine-point victors in an international friendly against the South East Australian Basketball League’s Ballarat Miners at the Mars Minerdome on Sunday.
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The scores were tied 41-41 at the main break, but the Ballarat GMHBA Miners ran out of steam after an impressive 34-point win over Canberra the previous night.
The Miners did not field a full strength team due to not wanting to risk players that had injury niggles, especially considering their top position in the south conference.
Cam McCallum was kept out of the side due to a shoulder injury he has been battling throughout the season, while import Leon Henry did not make an appearance after playing his first game for the Miners on Saturday before flying back to New Zealand on Sunday.
The friendly followed International Basketball Federation guidelines, with the Miners coached by Eric Hayes and Taipei coached by former star player Chou Chun-San.
The men’s national basketball team, which represents the Republic of China, had requested the match in the lead up to the Asian Qualifying Championships.
Chinese Taipei comes off winning the East Asian Games ahead of Korea, which has won the previous three.
As part of the training camp organised by the National Basketball League Asia, the team also played in friendlies against Melbourne United and Melbourne Tigers.
Ballarat Basketball’s Melissa Thomas said the match had presented another opportunity to partner and strengthen ties with Basketball Asia.
Rush player Joy Burke is part of the Taipei National Women’s team, while Ballarat Basketball hope to establish a coach and player exchange.
Chinese Taipei is set to meet Australia’s national team The Boomers in group B of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November this year.
