By OCA Young Reporter Zaynab Kawtharani
Nagoya, Japan, September 22, 2026: Chinese Taipei captain Tsai Yulien relied on communication and composure to guide her team to a 15-12 victory over Uzbekistan in the women’s 3x3 basketball Pool B competition at Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue on Monday.
Tsai said the occasion brought considerable excitement, but her responsibilities as captain required her to remain calm and focused.
“These are my very first international games. I am very excited, but I don’t want to get too excited because I am the team’s captain,” Tsai said.
Chinese Taipei’s preparation and teamwork proved decisive as the players overcame fatigue to secure the three point victory. Tsai played a vocal role throughout the contest, encouraging her teammates and helping them maintain their concentration.
“During this last game, we were very tired, and I was very vocal, telling them to relax, do well and do our best,” she said.
Tsai praised her teammates’ defensive effort, describing their focus as an important factor in the win. She added that constant communication helps the team respond collectively whenever difficulties arise during a match.
“I kept telling them to defend and to keep their focus on the game. Their defence was very good, and their focus as well,” she said. “We always try to solve every problem. We communicate a lot, and it is very important for us.”
The team also brought a touch of Japanese popular culture to the court by performing a pose inspired by the anime series Naruto before the match.
“We did that Naruto pose because we are in Japan and I love Japanese movies, so we did that with my teammates,” Tsai explained.
The victory gave Chinese Taipei a positive result in Pool B and provided Tsai with a memorable start to her Asian Games 3x3 campaign.