BRENDAN Joyce has not ruled out returning to the Ballarat Miners in season 2022, despite taking up a new role as head coach of the Kaohsiung Aquas, in Taiwan.
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Joyce will take over as head coach of the newly formed club in the T1 Basketball League, with the league set to run in the NBL1 off-season.
It will enable him to see out his current contract with the Ballarat Miners, which he has led since the inaugural 2019 NBL1 season.
Joyce said with the backing of his wife Joanne and the fact his children were now all grown, the opportunity to head overseas was something he was keen to pursue.
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He said he had researched the new club and league over the past few weeks, and also spoke with Chinese Taipei national and former Ballarat Rush player Joy Burke about the move.
"They were looking for an Australian coach and they were really keen to sign me, they offered me a good deal to be able to leave this country," Joyce said.
"It's been a process these last few weeks, and in the end I've decided to sign the contract. I want to see how it goes, they were keen for me to sign for two seasons, but I've only signed the one.
"I know Brian Goorjian planned to travel for one or two years and ended up staying eight, you never know how things go."
Joyce said he was excited to work with the professional team, with his understanding of basketball in Taiwan being similar to that in Japan, which is heavily weighted on offence and quick ball movement.
"Having coached all over Asia, Europe and the USA with our Boomers and Opals programs. I have tremendous respect for basketball in Asia and the way the game is played," he said.
Joyce will head to Taiwan in October at the conclusion of the NBL1 season, hopeful he can do so having taking the Miners to the play-offs.