Basketball’s Taipei Fubon Braves announced Wednesday that veteran forward Lin Chih-chieh (???) has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the defending P. LEAGUE+ champions.
The 40-year-old Lin recorded an average of 10.9 points, five rebounds, and three assists over 22 minutes per game during regular season play for the Braves in 2021-2022, before going on to post 15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 dimes in the side’s successful playoff campaign.
A highlight of Lin’s season was a 27-point, nine-rebound, five-assists, and four-steal outing in Game 4 of the best-of-five first-round playoff series against the Formosa Taishin Dreamers.
The Braves eventually won the game 119-111, and with it the series, in double overtime.
One of Taiwan’s most popular basketball stars, Lin has helped the Braves clinch back-to-back titles in the P. LEAGUE+’s first two seasons.
Braves General Manager Chris Tsai (???) said the club was very thankful that Lin had agreed to an extension, adding that the club was looking forward to the challenge of winning three consecutive championships.
Lin said he was also very happy about the extension and was grateful to still be able to play basketball.
“I will work very hard during training to help the team win consecutive championships,” Lin said, adding that he hopes to keep winning championships until he retires.
Before the P. LEAGUE+, Lin played in the COVID-19-shortened 2019-2020 season of the ASEAN Basketball League.
Prior to this, he played top-tier basketball in China from 2009-2019, and in Taiwan’s Super Basketball League from 2003-2009.
Lin was also part of the Taiwan national side that secured an unexpected fourth-place finish at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, scoring 17 points and seven rebounds in a historic 96-78 quarterfinal upset against defending champions China.
Despite losing to Iran in the tournament’s semifinals, and missing out on a FIBA World Cup 2014 berth to third-placed South Korea, Lin was named best small forward after averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
The Braves are slated to compete in the upcoming P. LEAGUE+ 2022-2023 season and the inaugural East Asia Super League, which starts in October.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel