Vincentian Basketball Star Leads MCU to Repeat Championship Victory in Taiwan

VINCENTIAN, Michael Smith, aged 21, has successfully led his team to victory for the second consecutive year in the Miaoli Cup Championship in Taiwan.

Smith, who plays in the Small Forward position for the Ming Chuan University (MCU) basketball team and is currently a third-year student pursuing a degree in Travel and Tourism. He has helped achieve backto- back basketball championships for his team by narrowly defeating their opponent, Overseas Chinese University (OCU), with a final score of 61-58 in this year’s Championships.

The Vincentian player, trained by the Playaz Youth Academy (PYA), is poised to graduate in 2026.

A fired-up Smith told SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, that, “The first championship was a great accomplishment for the players and coaches. The second championship proves the first one was not a fluke, and we are ready to defend it again next year”.

He also noted that several of his skills have been refined through training over the past three years, including shooting, ball-handling, and defence. “[It] also enhanced my game sense and decision-making on the court,” he remarked.

The tournament began on Saturday, October 12, and ended on Tuesday, October 15, in Taiwan, and featured several participating university teams.