TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's premier basketball competition, the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL, 台灣職業籃球聯賽), unveiled its prestigious All-TPBL First and Second Teams for the 2024-25 season on Friday (June 6), honoring the league's most outstanding performers. The annual selections, closely watched by the island's passionate basketball fanbase, revealed a striking concentration of talent from two powerhouse franchises — the New Taipei Kings (新北國王) and Formosa Dreamers (夢想家) — who collectively claimed half of the coveted spots. Basketball analysts noted that the selections largely reflected the competitive hierarchy that emerged during the regular season, with the most dominant teams securing the most individual accolades.
The elite First Team selection featured a formidable frontcourt trio of American center Jason Washburn (沃許本), whose dominant post presence altered opponents' offensive strategies throughout the season; versatile Liberian-American forward Lasan Kromah (克羅馬), known for his scoring efficiency and defensive versatility; and Taiwanese power forward Ma Chien-hao (馬建豪), who emerged as one of the league's most improved domestic players. The backcourt pairing united two of Taiwan's most dynamic guards — former NBA player Jeremy Lin (林書豪), the New Taipei Kings' marquee star whose global profile has significantly boosted the league's international visibility, and sharpshooting combo guard Kao Chin-wei (高錦瑋) from the Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards (桃園台啤永豐雲豹). The selections highlighted the New Taipei Kings' roster depth, with an impressive four players earning recognition across both teams.
The Second Team selections showcased equally impressive talent, with American shot-blocking specialist Brandon Gilbeck (高柏鎧) and athletic wing Kenny Manigault (曼尼高) forming a complementary frontcourt partnership that balanced rim protection with perimeter scoring. The backcourt featured a trio of Taiwanese guards who have helped elevate the quality of domestic talent in the league: Joseph Lin (林書緯) — Jeremy's younger brother who has carved out his own basketball identity in Taiwan — alongside Kaohsiung Aquas (高雄海神) teammates Lin Chun-chi (林俊吉), a veteran playmaker known for his court vision, and Su Wen-ju (蘇文儒), whose first-ever selection to an All-TPBL team represents a significant career milestone. Su's inclusion particularly resonated with fans who have followed his development from a role player to a consistent offensive threat.
The team-by-team breakdown of the selections offered a revealing snapshot of the league's competitive balance heading into the playoffs. The Formosa Dreamers, based in central Taiwan's Changhua County, demonstrated their roster depth with three players earning All-TPBL honors — a testament to the franchise's successful recruitment strategy and player development system. The Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards, sponsored by Taiwan's iconic beer brand and playing in the industrial hub north of Taipei, saw two of their standout performers receive recognition for their season-long consistency. For the Kaohsiung Aquas, representing Taiwan's southern port city, Su Wen-Ju's breakthrough selection provided a bright spot in what observers characterized as a transitional season for the franchise. ◼