《TAIPEI TIMES》The Taichung Suns disband after being booted from league

Staff writer, with CNA

The Taichung Suns are disbanding after the T1 League announced last month that they would not be allowed to take part in the league’s 2023-2024 season.

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“We are sorry for announcing that our team has decided to disband. This has been a very difficult decision, and we know it is a huge blow to everyone,” the Suns said in a statement on Monday.

On Sept. 15 the T1 League said that it was disqualifying the Suns from this year’s competition due to the club’s failure to meet financial requirements outlined in league regulations.

Without the Suns, the league has five teams this season.

‘UNFAIR TREATMENT’

In the two days after they were disqualified, the Suns issued statements saying that there were serious flaws in the league’s handling of the case, but that they were unable to get the decision reversed.

The Suns said on Sept. 15 that they were among the first three teams that the league approved for the 2023-2024 season in early July, but the league later asked them to meet stricter financial benchmarks.

On Sept. 8, the league asked the team to set up a NT$50 million （US$1.55 million） trust account by 6pm on Sept. 14, a demand they could not meet in so little time, resulting in them being barred for the 2023-2024 season, the Suns said.

“We have encountered unfair treatment from the league, which arbitrarily disqualified us from playing in the games, ignoring the jobs ... and families of all our team members. This left us disappointed and without hope,” the Suns said on Monday.

HOPES DASHED

The team had hoped to play in the ASEAN Basketball League, but could not because its organizers had not yet decided when its next season would start and what teams would be included.

The Suns said that they also did not want to hamper the development of their players, so they disbanded to give the players more choice and opportunities.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES