Hong Kong basketball star Glen Yang ‘intrigued’ by challenge of competing in Canada’s top league with Winnipeg Sea Bears

Hong Kong basketball star Glen Yang is taking his talents to Canada to play for the Winnipeg Sea Bears this summer.

The point guard is the fourth player, after Chad Posthumus, Shane Osayande and Michael Okafor, to be named as part of the Sea Bears, an expansion team in the 2023 season.

Yang, who was born in Vancouver, said he was excited by the challenge that lay ahead, and had been targeting a shot in the Canadian Elite Basketball League since it was launched in 2019.

“I am extremely hungry to prove myself and continue to get better this summer,” he said. “I also feel proud to represent other Asian descent players by being the only Asian player so far to do this.”

The 26-year-old played has been playing in the East Asia Super League for the Bay Area Dragons, who lost in the final of the Commissioner’s Cup in the Philippines, before coming third in the EASL’s Champions Week tournament in Japan last month.

Yang said he has been “intrigued” by the level of competition in the CEBL.

“There are a lot of NBA G League and fringe NBA players as well as high level European pros in the CEBL, they will be a lot of fun to compete against,” he said.

“Also, playing back in Canada in front of many family and friends is always a plus.”

After averaging 10.7 points, 5.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 23 games with the Hong Kong-based Dragons in the Philippines Basketball Association competition, Yang said he expected to start contract talks with the franchise soon.

“I appreciate head coach Brian Goorjian a lot, he has taught me so much on and off the court in a short amount of time,” he said. “He can be very hard on his players at times but we all know it is because he wants to get the best out of us and push us to our potential.”

The Dragons, who are reportedly considering moving to Macau permanently, have yet to commit to playing another season in the Philippines and the inaugural EASL season is set to tip off on October 11.

The 2023 CEBL season will be divided into two conferences for the first time in league history, with the Sea Bears one of the five teams in the Western Conference.

Each team will play 20 regular season games, which will be played from May 24 to July 30, with the play-offs wrapping up by mid- August.

Third and fourth-placed teams advance to play-in games for a spot in the conference quarter-finals against the No 2 team, and the winners progress to the final four alongside two conference winners.

Brampton Honey Badgers are the reigning champions, while Edmonton Stingers are the most successful team with two titles over the past four years.