BASKETBALL/PLG issues bans for 2 New Taipei Kings star players over controversies

Taipei, Nov. 9 (CNA) The P.LEAGUE+ (PLG) has decided to ban two of its top stars for 10+ games as punishment for the harm they have done to the image of the league following controversies during the offseason.

According to a statement issued by the league Thursday, PLG two-time regular season MVP Yang Chin-min (楊敬敏) and Quincy Davis of the New Taipei Kings will respectively be banned for 15 and 20 games in the upcoming season, starting from the season opener on Saturday in which the Kings play the Taipei Fubon Braves.

Davis was also fined NT$350,000 (US$10,841), the PLG stated.

As well as the bans and fine, the PLG strongly suggested that the Kings should not pay the two players when the bans are in effect for disciplinary purposes.

The punishment was taken by the league following the findings of a disciplinary committee, which met the same day.

That decision also served as an announcement that Yang will return as a player, after he took time off following a fan's claim in June that the married veteran small forward had an affair with his ex-girlfriend in mid-March.

Yang, who married in 2014 and has two young children, previously cultivated an image as being a family man.

The incident saw Yang apologize on Instagram for the harm caused to his family, the PLG, the team franchise and the Taiwan Professional Basketball Players Association, from which he announced he was stepping down as head with immediate effect.

"The only thing I can do now is to give up everything, start over and spend more time with the family I hurt ... From now on, I have to bid farewell to my fans, I will leave the court and the leadership of the association and focus on my family," Yang said.

"Sorry, I was wrong. I will miss you, basketball," he concluded.

The apology sparked speculation as to whether Yang would call an end to his career, although the 39-year-old did not mention "retirement" in his post.

However, many fans of other pro clubs in Taiwan have recently commented on Yang's participation in Kings' workouts in stories and videos posted to Instagram.

At the same time, Kings general manager James Mao (毛加恩) and superstar Jeremy Lin (林書豪) have both previously said they would like to have Yang back.

Yang was elected the PLG regular season MVP for the past two seasons. He played about 28.5 minutes per game in 39 games while logging 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

Yang was exempt from a fine because the case did not go to court, the PLG said, adding that the ban was made because his high profile status meant Yang's transgression tarnished the league's image.

The ban means Yang can not suit up for the Kings until Jan. 21, when the New Taipei hosts the Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

Meanwhile, Davis, who gave up his American citizenship and became a Taiwanese citizen in 2013, received the punishment on suspicion of violating the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.

The big man was indicted by Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office on July 14 for physically harming his ex-wife in May, when the two had an altercation in front of Qingpu Police Station on May 12 over child care issues, while his ex-wife held a small child, according to a statement issued by the prosecutors office.

Citing the league's rules and regulations, which state that anyone formally charged will face a fine and a ban of 15-25 games, the PLG committee members made the decision based on how national and foreign pro sports leagues have coped with domestic violence matters over the past few years, the PLG stated.

Davis, 40, racked up 10.3 points and 8.6 boards in 38 regular season games while playing nearly 24.5 minutes per game.

The ban means he will miss at least half the 40-game PLG regular season and be able to play no earlier than the Kings' home game against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on Feb. 18, 2023.

In response to the announced punishment, the Kings issued a statement late on Thursday expressing doubt over newly-passed league rules, saying the standards are unclear and the league did not give the players involved an opportunity to defend themselves.

The franchise added that it hopes the PLG "secretary-general" can shed light on the disciplinary action and will seek to find a way to change the punishment based on the new rules and regulations, the Kings said.

However, as of press time there was no further information as to whom the Kings were referring to, as the league is not known to have a secretary-general.