For over four decades, no basketball team from Chinese Taipei has managed to secure a medal, let alone a championship, in Asia's most prestigious club competition. This long wait has placed considerable expectations on Taoyuan Pauian, now known as the Pilots, as they head into the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025, carrying the hopes of a region eager to see an end to this drought.

The Pilots earned their ticket to Dubai through an impressive performance in the BCL Asia-East 2025 qualifiers. Under the guidance of Coach Iurgi Caminos, the team demonstrated formidable strength by sweeping the Group Phase, winning all six of their games in Group A. This undefeated run established them as the top seed from their pool heading into the decisive Final 4, which took place on May 30-31 in Mongolia.

Maintaining their momentum, Taoyuan decisively overcame the New Taipei Kings in an all-Chinese Taipei semifinal matchup, winning 81-62. This victory not only propelled them to the Final but, more crucially, sealed their qualification for the BCL Asia tournament scheduled for June 7-13. Although their quest for the BCL Asia-East championship was ultimately halted by the host team, Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos, in the final, the primary objective of qualifying for the main BCL Asia event was successfully achieved.

This qualification signifies not only the return of a Chinese Taipei representative to this prominent stage but also a personal milestone for the Pilots organization. The club, previously competing under the Pauian banner, has participated in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup (the former name of BCL Asia) twice. Their most recent appearance was in 2018 in Thailand, where they finished in sixth place in a tournament ultimately won by Iran's Petrochimi.

Following their 2018 campaign, the organization underwent significant transformations. In 2020, the team was strategically split, with one faction joining the newly established P. League+ (PLG). After a series of rebrands, they emerged as the Taoyuan Pilots, a team that has since built a strong reputation, highlighted by their recent triumph in securing the 2024-25 PLG championship just last May.

The prospect of adding a BCL Asia medal to their recent PLG title is a strong aspiration for the team and its supporters. The historical context is stark: the last time a team from Chinese Taipei achieved such a feat was in 1984, when Kuang Hua claimed the bronze medal in the tournament held in Malaysia. This remains Chinese Taipei's sole medal in the history of the competition, underscoring the significance of the Pilots' current campaign.

To achieve this historic goal, Taoyuan will rely on its key players to deliver exceptional performances. Leading the charge is Lu Chun-Hsiang, the 2025 PLG Finals MVP, who was instrumental in the BCL Asia-East qualifiers with averages of 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. The team's top scorer during the qualifiers was Alec Brown, a sweet-shooting big man who showcased elite accuracy, averaging 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds.

However, the Pilots' strength is not confined to these two individuals. The team boasts other solid reinforcements, including Julian Boyd, who contributed significantly with averages of 15.8 points and 10.5 rebounds, and Jarrod Jones, who posted 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Complementing these international talents is a capable local contingent, with players like Li Chia-Kang and Chen Li-Sheng playing crucial roles in the team's success.