BASKETBALL/Gadiaga joins DEA on five-year contract

Taipei, June 16 (CNA) Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga, a two-time regular season MVP in the former T1 League, has signed a five-year contract with the New Taipei CTBC DEA, with annual pay estimated to surpass NT$20 million (US$678,081).

The pact guarantees the first three years, with mutual options for the final two, DEA general manager Liu Zhi-wei (劉志威) said at a player presentation news conference for Gadiaga in Taipei on Monday.

The DEA is a member of the seven-team Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL), which kicked off its inaugural season in December 2024.

While not disclosing the exact contract amount, Liu described Gadiaga's annual salary as "eight figures" and "close to that of top Chinese Basketball Association players who have played overseas."

Liu said the deal does not rule out the possibility of Gadiaga returning to play overseas. "As long as it benefits him and he's willing, we'll help evaluate the league's competitiveness, regulations, and other factors -- it's open to discussion," he said.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Gadiaga's annual salary is expected to be around NT$25 million, likely second only to Jeremy Lin's contract with the New Taipei Kings, the DEA's cross-town rivals.

Gadiaga, 27, previously played three seasons with the DEA in the T1 League, winning MVP honors in 2023 and 2024 before joining the Akita Northern Happinets in Japan's B.LEAGUE.

In the 2024-25 season, he started 38 out of 58 games and averaged 10 points per game, shooting 39 percent from the field, while the DEA missed the playoffs for the first time since the team's founding in 2021.

Reflecting on his one-year stint in Japan, Gadiaga said the experience helped him become a better player, particularly in reading the game and making shooting decisions, skills he looks forward to showcasing back in Taiwan to help the DEA.

Returning to Taiwan, he said, was a decision made after multiple considerations, particularly his bond with the team and the local environment.

"After all, I was with the DEA for three years. We know each other well, so I believe I can fit in quickly," the young phenom said, adding that fans in Taiwan often come out to see him play.

Gadiaga said he "can't wait for the next season," and looks forward to facing Lin on the court.