Chinese-Taipei will sport a new look during the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers’ Clark window.
Coach Charlie Parker will parade their new naturalized player in Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga during the competition.
Gadiaga, known as Abbasi, is a 6-foot-2 guard who grew up in Taiwan to a Senegalese father and an American mother. He is a junior with Shih Hsin University — the same school Jack Animam attended last year.
During the 2020 season of the University Basketball Alliance, Abbasa averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. He also led the Tigers to the Finals.
According to Tiebreaker Times’ Enzo Flojo, Abbasa only got his Taiwanese passport this year.
Other players from the UBA called up by the Chinese-Taipei federation are Lan Shaofu of National Taiwan Sports University; and the duo of 5-foot-9 point guard Ku Mao Weichia and 6-foot shooter Hsieh Yahsuan of Chien Hsin University.
Protecting the fort for Chinese Taipei are Jonah Morrison, Su Shihhsuan, and Lin Jenhung.
Completing the 12-man roster are Wu Siaojin, Lu Chunhsiang, Chen Yujui, Hsieh Yahsuan, and Li Hansheng.
None of these players played in the first window of the Qualifiers that saw them have a 1-1 slate.
Chinese-Taipei’s Group B campaign begins on June 17 against China. They then face Japan on the 18th and China again on the 20th.
