University of Hong Kong team coach James Chan says ‘extremely short’ season means teams are under-prepared when playing abroad
Hong Kong’s intercollegiate system needs an overhaul if the city’s teams are to compete on an even footing against foreign teams, said the University of Hong Kong (HKU) men’s team head coach, as they gear up for the Asian University Basketball League this week.
James Chan Yik-lun said that while playing overseas in tournaments of higher standards could only bring positives, the “extremely short” local season meant that Hong Kong college teams were underdone when they played against foreign opposition.
This was shown starkly last week when HKU, the reigning local intercollegiate champions, flew to Tokyo for the three-day World University Basketball Series and came away last Monday with two landslide losses in as many days.
HKU first fell 98-31 to the Japan University Select Team, before being humbled 102-48 by Taiwan’s National Chengchi University.
