Basketball coach Kyle Julius encourages 'battle level' competitiveness

Taipei, Nov. 11 (CNA) Formosa Dreamers head coach Kyle Julius, former Canadian men's national team player and one of Canada's most talented basketball minds, is encouraging young basketball players in Taiwan to play with greater competitiveness so they can improve.

"I think that needs to be the baseline for everyone, and for me, a competitive nature, which in my coaching culture, I call 'battle level,' will make improvement come quicker," Julius told CNA Wednesday at a press conference ahead of the opening of the new P.LEAGUE+ basketball league next month.

Julius said he has seen good basketball skills among Taiwanese players but thinks they can lift their performance by playing with greater competitiveness.

"We in Canada have a different approach to competitiveness, which I would say is the fundamental difference," he said. "It has nothing to do with our size or athleticism. Once young Taiwanese players adopt or embrace a similar approach to competitiveness, I think the sky is the limit."

With their skills, young Taiwanese basketball players have the potential to make Taiwan one of the best in the region, in terms of the game, Julius said.

"As a country, that (competitiveness) needs to be embraced by the younger generation, but even the younger generation in Canada has problems with that as well," he said. "But I think competitiveness is the number one key. We just need to really emphasize it, really build on it and really push it."

Julius, head coach of the Formosa Dreamers, said he is looking forward to the P.LEAGUE+, Taiwan's newest professional basketball league that was started this year.

He was coaching the Dreamers in the regional ASEAN Basketball League before its 2019-2020 season was forced to end early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"First of all, I am blessed to be here, being from North America where we can't have fans in any leagues," Julius said at the recent preseason games that were held Nov. 7 and 8 at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium. "Even in Canada all the basketball right now is shut down," he said.

The Dreamers won back-to-back games against the Hsinchu Lioneers and Taipei Fubon Braves, 122-104 and 95-87, respectively, sinking a total of 42 buckets beyond the arc.

The official P.LEAGUE+ season officially starts on Dec. 19, with the Dreamers coming up against the Braves in the opening game at Changhua County Stadium.

The P.LEAGUE+, which currently has four teams, is one of two domestic basketball leagues, the other being the Super Basketball League.