Hong Kong college coach, star blame system for Asian University Basketball League showing
Non-release of regular starters, poor development, coach shortage among reasons for University of Hong Kong finishing last, they say
University of Hong Kong (HKU) team members have lamented the lack of professionalism in the local ecosystem as the city’s representatives rounded off their debut in the Asian University Basketball League in Hangzhou with another loss on Saturday.
Reigning local intercollegiate champions HKU lost 98-78 to hosts Zhejiang University in the placement game to finish with three losses and rank last among the 12 teams.
Playing without a host of regular starters because local A1 Division teams did not release their players, and with only seven players – six of whom are usually reserves – at his disposal, stand-in head coach Winson Tam Kai-chung praised his players’ efforts amid a sense of frustration.
Tam said most coaches in Hong Kong had to take care of “four, five and even six teams”, and there was no way any of them could give any of their teams a comprehensive training plan for any particular team.
“The Japanese universities can afford to have a full-time coach, a couple of full-time assistant coaches and even a full-time scout to study their opponents,” he said.
“We don’t even have a regular court to practise on, let alone have a full team to practise with regularly, as some players are committed to their local club teams.