Taiwan’s men’s national basketball team is set to upgrade its depth in the paint after signing Brandon Gilbeck of the P.League+’s Formosa Dreamers to a naturalized player’s contract.
The 27-year-old big man from the US landed in Taoyuan early on Monday, where he was welcomed by Chinese Taipei Basketball Association deputy secretary-general Chang Cheng-chung.
The two signed the deal, which still has to be approved by the Sports Administration and the Ministry of the Interior.
Photo: CNA
Chang said he is confident that “the proceedings would go smoothly.”
If approved, Gilbeck would become the third naturalized basketball player in Taiwan, following the New Taipei Kings’ Quincy Davis, now 41, and William Artino, who parted ways with the Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers when his contract expired in late January before returning to the US.
Gilbeck has made a name for himself in Taiwan for his defense. Since joining the Dreamers in 2021, the 2.1m American has won the shot-blocking title three seasons in a row. He is also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and has been twice chosen for the P.League+’s All-Defensive Team.
Gilbeck had expressed an interest in playing for Taiwan, saying he likes the people and the environment of the country.
In a social media post on Monday morning, the association thanked Dreamers general manager Jonathan Han and franchise cofounder Chen Li-tsung for their help in the deal.
If approved, Gilbeck would suit up for Taiwan’s A Team at this month’s William Jones Cup, where he would play with top national players such as Chen Ying-chun, Liu Cheng and Benson Lin in a warmup for FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in November.
In February, Taiwan lost 89-69 to New Zealand in their first game with no naturalized players on the roster.
At the Jones Cup, Gilbeck would face off against two of his Dreamers teammates: Julian Boyd, who plays for Taiwan’s Team B, and Chris McCullough, who plays for the Philippines.
Boyd and McCullough are also likely to become naturalized players, the franchise said.
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