Jeremy Lin.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
LAPU-LAPU CITY—Jeremy Lin will not play for the New Taipei Kings in their East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four match against the Chiba Jets on Friday in this city due to a foot injury.
Lin was scratched from the semifinal clash with their Japanese counterparts at Hoops Dome after the official rosters were released by the league on the day of the tournament’s penultimate matches.
The former NBA player had been dealing with the injury since late January and missed several of New Taipei’s games in both the EASL and the domestic P+League.
READ: Jeremy Lin, New Taipei look to stop Chiba in EASL Final Four
He did take part in Thursday’s practice here, but the team decided it would be best to shelve Lin at least for the semis.
Teams in the Final Four can change rosters for Sunday’s third place and championship matches.
Naturalized player Quincy Davis, Kenneth Manigault, Joseph Lin, ex-Bay Area Dragons player Hayden Blankley and former Detroit Pistons picks Austin Daye will try to lead the Kings to an upset of the Jets, who swept all of their six games in the group phase.
READ: Jeremy Lin relishes playing again before ‘unreal’ PH fanbase
Meanwhile, Rhenz Abando is part of Anyang Jung Kwan Jang’s roster for the other Final Four match with fellow South Korean ballclub Seoul SK Knights.
Abando had hinted the previous day that he was doubtful to play despite already returning from a horrific fall last December.