Class: Comm 319

SCOTT WALSH
Date: 23 November 2015
HEADLINE: First Taiwanese at CBA, Sun is passing forward his basketball dream
BYLINE: Jenny Chang

Being a coach, a teacher, seeing my students grow, the sense of achievement is much
more than playing the game myself. Huan-Po Sun said,
Huan-Po Sun is the first Taiwanese who played in the Chinese Basketball Association
(CBA) without playing in the Super Basketball League (SBL) in Taiwan first. Aged 26 then,
he decided to dedicate himself into education, and passed his experience forward.
When Sun was little, he watched NBA players on TV, and was inspired a lot. He was
determined to play basketball as a career since he joined the varsity team in Taipei Municipal
Jinhua Junior High School. His coach at the time, Jin-Cheng Cheng, influenced his whole
life.
He said that the court is like life, Sun said. You have to keep competiveness all the
time. If you dont have competiveness, youll be washed out. You have to keep asking
yourself for more, and never give up.
Not only did he teach his players skills on the court, coach Cheng had good
interaction with his students. This made Sun be sure about his determination playing
basketball, and gave him the motivation to devote himself into education.
Although Sun wasnt a key player in high school, he didnt give up on his dream. In
others eyes, he was always a hard-working player who put in effort and waited for his
chance.
The Huan-Po Sun I know is pretty hard-working, said An-Cheng Deng, Suns
friend, and a SBL player. A player thats hard-working on the court and in private.
Finally, Shanxi Brave Dragon (CBA) provided Sun an opportunity in 2008, and gave
him the chance to know current assistant coach of Charlotte Hornets, Bob Weiss. Chia-Fa
Liu, the head coach of Fujian Sturgeons (CBA) at the time saw Suns ambition during the
training.
As a player, hes willing to play in China and works hard there, Liu said. I think
when it comes to his ability, he gives himself a lot of confidence.

After playing at CBA, Sun went back to Taiwan in 2010, and won The Rookie of the
Year award in the SBL. However, he left SBL the following years, and finished his masters
degree Sport Coaching Science at Chinese Culture University. Deeply in Suns heart, being a
coach has been his dream since he was in junior high school.
If I cant play basketball, Sun said, I can be a coach, and pass my experience at
school and playing basketball forward, pass to the next generation, and hope they can be
better than me.
In April 2012, Sun, as an assistant coach, led the team of his alma mater, Jinhua Junior
High School, to the championship of Junior High School Basketball League. His experiences
in the past have become the power of his coaching. Seeing Suns persistence from junior high
until now, Liu has positive perspective.
I think he has some qualities, Liu said. He communicates with others well, and hes
patient, hes patient communicating with others.
Liu is positive about Suns idea passing forward, and thinks his qualities are suitable
for a coach.
Changing position from a player to a coach, Sun appreciates the diligent treatment
provided by his former coaches. Now he thinks in his players shoes, and hopes to know
them more.
Because Im still young now, its easier for me to get along with them, Sun said.
This way, its easier to touch their hearts, and theyll be more obedient and believe what I
say.
He also mentioned that graduate courses like Coaching Psychology and Selected
Research Topics in Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry help him a lot. When players
trust their coach, the training will be more effective.
While reaching out to his goal, Sun thinks that a coach is a role model to his players, so
he keeps studying and learning to enrich himself. Sun hopes that his players not only learn
skills from him, but feel what he has mentally. Liu said athletes nowadays get higher
education diplomas; Suns attitude gives him competiveness.
Even if you are an athlete, you still have to finish school, Liu said, and learn in
different aspects. When you want to coach, you have your expertise, diploma, and fame.
These help a lot!
Theres a lot of frustration on the road pursuing his basketball dream, but Sun thinks
hes lucky that he had some experiences that regular players will never have their whole lives,
and he also encourages those with basketball dream to believe in themselves.

No matter what you do, you have to do it as you mean it. Sun said; Sometimes the
result is not the most important, sometimes you learn a lot during the process.
Now being a coach in Taiwan, Sun will never forget his original intention playing
basketball and show his confidence on the court.