Serbian professional basketball player Nemanja Bešovic has been signed by the Taoyuan Pilots of Taiwan’s P. LEAGUE+, according to the club Thursday.
The 29-year-old 2.21-meter center arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday and is now undergoing mandatory quarantine, the Pilots said.
Bešovic started his professional career in 2007 and has played professionally around the world, including in Serbia, Belgium, Qatar, Iran, and Bulgaria.
Bešovic is a center who has height and ability at both ends of the floor, according to the Pilots, who are currently fifth in the six-team P.LEAGUE+ with a 5-8 record.
In a Pilots statement, Bešovic said he was happy to be in Taiwan and hopes to help the team win more games.
He will be the Pilots’ third international player, joining Americans Devin Robinson and Jordan Tolbert.
Manny Harris reports to the Kaohsiung Steelers: Former NBA player Corperryale L’Adorable “Manny” Harris completed quarantine Tuesday and reported to the Kaohsiung Steelers in the P. LEAGUE+, the club said Wednesday.
The 32-year-old 1.96-meter shooting guard arrived in Taiwan in the second half of last month and is expected to play for the Steelers starting March 18 when the Kaohsiung team travels to Taipei to take on the Taipei Fubon Braves.
He logged 93 games in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Dallas Mavericks between 2010 and 2017, and has since played in Europe and Asia.
Harris had an impressive 2020-2021 season with the Shandong Heroes (now rebranded as the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin) of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), averaging 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.
Harris joined AEK Athens in the Greek Basket League in July 2021 but left in October and has been out of the game since.
Harris believes he can bring offensive and defensive energy to the Steelers and also knowledge and experience from playing in different countries.
“When I was in quarantine, I got a chance to watch a few games with the Steelers, and I think we’re a pretty good team, got some solid pieces. With the addition of me and some other guys that are injured and everything, I think we could make some noise and make a push,” Harris said.
The Steelers are currently in last place in the P. LEAGUE+ with a 4-10 record.
Perry James Jones III joins the Taipei Fubon Braves: American Perry James Jones III has been signed by the Taipei Fubon Braves of Taiwan’s professional basketball league P. LEAGUE+, the club announced Wednesday.
The 30-year-old 2.11-meter forward is currently in Taiwan and undergoing mandatory quarantine, and is expected to play at the end of March, Braves head coach Roger Hsu (???) said.
Jones was picked 29th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he played in 155 games over three seasons. He has also played in the NBA G League and for professional clubs in Russia, Turkey, and Germany.
With a wingspan of 2.20 meters, Jones be the Braves’ fourth imported player, joining American Michael Singletary, Maltese Samuel Deguara, and Ukrainian Ihor Zaytsev.
The Braves are tied for the lead in the P.LEAGUE+ with a 9-6 record.
Ronald Delph joins TaiwanBeer HeroBears: The TaiwanBeer HeroBears of Taiwan’s T1 LEAGUE are adding a foreign player of their own, American big man Ronald Delph, who most recently played in the United Kingdom, the club said Wednesday.
The 28-year-old 2.13-meter Delph has played professionally in Lithuania, Estonia, Canada, and in U.K., and he averaged 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in 15 games with the Glasgow Rocks in the British Basketball League’s 2020-2021 season.
Delph and new Asian import player Thai-American forward Tyler Lamb are expected to play for the HeroBears starting Saturday, the club said.
Taoyuan Pilots edge New Taipei Kings: The Taoyuan Pilots narrowly edged past the visiting New Taipei Kings 97-95 in the P. LEAGUE+ on Tuesday.
Trailing 96-93 with just under 14 seconds left in the game, Kings center Quincy Davis got the ball at the top of the three-point arc but lost his balance and was called for traveling with 10 seconds to go.
The Kings quickly fouled Pilots guard Lu Chung-hsiang (???), who made one of two free throws to put his team up 97-93, and Davis rammed home an offensive rebound at the other end with under 2 seconds left to keep the Kings in the game.
But on the ensuing possession, the Pilots inbounded the ball cleanly and evaded any attempt by the Kings to foul as time ran out to clinch the 97-95 win.
Pilots forward Devin Robinson led all scorers with 36 points and also contributed 13 rebounds, while teammate Jordan Tolbert recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
In a major loss for the Kings, who fell to 8-6 and a half game out of first place, forward Chris McCullough injured his left knee late in the first half, and the club said a day later he had an anterior cruciate ligament tear.
The Kings will fully assist McCullough with his treatment, and follow-up plans will be announced after discussions between McCullough and the Kings, the club said.
McCullough, who was picked 29th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, had averaged 20.85 points, 8.57 rebounds, and 1.14 blocks in the seven games he played for the Kings this year.
T1 LEAGUE games: The Taoyuan Leopards are hosting three games over the weekend against the Kaohsiung Aquas on Friday, the TaiwanBeer HeroBears on Saturday, and the Tainan TSG GhostHawks on Sunday, while the Taichung Wagor Suns will host the GhostHawks Saturday and the Aquas on Sunday.
P. LEAGUE+ games: The Steelers will host the Hsinchu Jko Lioneers on Saturday and the Kings on Sunday, while the Braves will host the team it is tied with at the top of the league, the Formosa Taishin Dreamers, on Saturday and the Pilots on Sunday.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel