Fearless Warriors on the Court Chris Tsai,Pioneering Taiwan's Basketball Dynasty

I hope sports becomes an integral part of Taiwanese life∼ 臺北富邦勇士籃球隊領隊 暨富邦人壽副董事長蔡承儒Chris

Statistics reveal that 90% of American entrepreneurs played sports at school. In Taiwan, there's an entrepreneur equally passionate about sports. He led the Taipei Fubon Braves to a three-time championship in PLG, establishing the “Fubon Dynasty.” This visionary is Chris Tsai, the GM of the Taipei Fubon Braves basketball team and the Vice Chairman of Fubon Life Insurance.

From a young age, Chris Tsai was passionate about sports. Like many Taiwanese basketball fans, his love for the game was sparked by the anime series "Slam Dunk." "I loved watching 'Slam Dunk' as a kid. I remember the show aired every evening at 7, so I'd rush to finish my homework," reminisced Chris, a hint of a shy smile playing on his lips. In the first grade, he practiced shooting tirelessly, advancing to shooting at adult-height hoops by the second grade. Today, Chris, swapping his suit for a jersey, remains a sharp shooter.

Studying in the U.S., Chris was deeply influenced by its vibrant sports culture. "On American campuses, it's not just about academics; sporting achievements are celebrated!" When he first arrived in the U.S., language barriers made it difficult to make friends, but basketball bridged that gap, helping him swiftly integrate into the local scene.

"I hope sports becomes an integral part of Taiwanese life," asserts Chris. Passionate about basketball, he is committed to promoting sports. Bringing his experiences back home, Chris endeavors to promote sports culture through the power of teams, encouraging students to be active and attend games. After returning to Taiwan, Chris took over as General Manager of Fubon Entertainment in 2014. "I was thrilled. It was my first time managing a team, and I dove into it, focusing on doing what's right and what I loved."

To Chris, as a nation progresses, its pursuits go beyond just the economic. Elevating cultural life, especially developments in arts and sports, becomes paramount. However, there's a prevailing notion in Taiwan that children who aren't academically inclined play sports. Chris believes sports and studies aren't mutually exclusive and can coexist. In American culture, children involved in sports are often seen as brighter and potentially more successful in their careers. To change this perception in Taiwan, Chris passionately promotes professional basketball. "For sports to flourish professionally, parents must be willing to let their children pursue it," he emphasizes.

After entering the sports industry, Chris set two goals. First, on-court success, which meant winning games. Second, to change the sports environment in Taiwan.

Initially, Chris was deeply involved in promoting a conducive sporting environment. However, he soon realized the initial step was to make his team the best, thereby gaining influence and a voice. Under his guidance, Taipei Fubon Braves emerged as the strongest team, clinching the SBL (Super Basketball League) championship in 2019. An emotional Chris describes this as his "first touching moment."

Following the team's success, he focused on transforming the environment. He moved the Fubon Braves from the SBL to the ABL (ASEAN Basketball League). "My goal was to focus on local professional basketball, but no other teams were interested then. Through ABL's home game system, we achieved remarkable results, enticing other teams to follow suit," he elaborated.

In 2020, two decades later, the professional basketball league, PLG, was established in Taiwan. The Fubon Braves, as the benchmark team, won championships for three consecutive seasons, reigniting Taiwan's professional basketball fervor. Chris boasts, "I've clinched four championships and transformed the basketball scene, a truly fulfilling feat!" Within a decade, he achieved his two primary goals, marking a significant milestone in Taiwan's professional basketball history.

Terence Chen, General Manager of Taiwan Hsin Lin Group, shares his experience of watching a PLG game, "On the court, I was deeply moved; it somewhat felt like watching the NBA. This was an experience never felt before in Taiwan!" Terence and Chris share a deep bond of friendship, with Terence even being invited to Fubon Braves' home games as a special guest.

To many fans at Fubon Braves' home games, the experience felt "just like watching the NBA." Emulating the standards of the NBA, the world's premier league, is no easy feat. So how did they achieve such a result?

With determination in his eyes, Chris asserts, " From the beginning, our goal was clear: to offer a fresh experience. We invested heavily in advanced projections, lighting, sound, and live performances to set a new standard. We wanted fans to feel the NBA ambiance, and we spared no expense to achieve it."

"The rigorous discipline of an athlete and the personal growth derived from it mentally fortified me when I ventured into the corporate world. It instilled in me a stronger sense of team spirit."∼ 臺北富邦勇士籃球隊領隊 暨富邦人壽副董事長蔡承儒Chris

Having been immersed in the sports industry for nearly a decade, Chris has achieved both of his initial goals. Yet, he now harbors even grander dreams – enhancing the national team's performance, striving for excellence on their behalf. He observes that Taiwan's two major basketball leagues are engrossed in mutual competition. Nevertheless, international games hold paramount importance, and there should be a more substantial emphasis on national team resource consolidation and collaboration.

Terence, also a fervent lover of basketball, strongly aligns with Chris's views. He deeply admires the way Chris plays basketball and conducts himself professionally. He observes, 'On the basketball court, Chris is truly relentless, giving it his all and pushing beyond even past injuries. This same unwavering commitment is evident when he promotes sports culture; he's truly passionate.' Chris and Terence became close friends after organizing sports events together in an association, and now they make it a point to play basketball together every week.

"On the court, Chris is proactive in defense and an excellent playmaker. He'll shoot when it's right, but if a teammate has a better opportunity, he'll pass," says an elated Terence, discussing their shared love for basketball. Both of them draw parallels between playing basketball and managing a business – emphasizing the need for proactive engagement, resilience against setbacks, and the establishment of discipline.

Chris acknowledges that his athletic experiences have played a pivotal role in his corporate journey. "The stringent discipline maintained by athletes during training and games, coupled with the personal growth they undergo, has given me a more robust mental constitution and an enhanced sense of team spirit in the business world," he shares.

Speaking of THL's ventures, Chris shared his insights: "Terence is quite innovative. He channels his daring court maneuvers into business strategies. He's far from traditional, adopting bold and aggressive approaches, pioneering numerous novel business models – a trait I deeply admire." In supporting basketball, THL has been proactive, sponsoring the Taipei Fubon Braves from their early days. In recent times, they've also collaborated with the High School Basketball League (HBL) on a "Professional Exploration Employment Plan", nurturing young athletes and fulfilling corporate social responsibilities.

Addressing the embodiment of the ESG corporate spirit, Chris spares no effort or resource. "Most financial holding companies have multiple ESG-related initiatives. But Fubon's approach is distinct; we've integrated sports events into our ESG efforts." Fubon Financial Holding stands out as the only financial institution in Taiwan sponsoring international marquee marathon events. They've also launched the "Run For GreenTM" initiative, promoting a 'run-plant-carbon reduction' project. For every participant who accumulates 40 kilometers across these marathons, Fubon plants a tree in Taiwan. By actively promoting Taiwan's sports culture and sustaining a corporate environment, Chris harnesses the perseverance and discipline from the court to fulfill broader societal responsibilities, making the athlete's spirit omnipresent.