Taiwan Competition" G3 was rarely replaced by Hirano Keiichi. Zhang Shilun revealed the reason: He didn't want me to be like this.

Zhang Shilun. (Photo by reporter Chen Zhiqu)

[Reporter Gong Naijie/Report from Taipei] CITIC Brothers Zhang Shilun hit his first career hit in the Taiwanese Series in the third inning today, leading the team to score 2 points from the Suns, ending a 12-game hitless streak. He was rarely benched early by head coach Keiichi Hirano in G3. It turned out to be because he was seen with his head bowed in despair. Now he raised his head and fought hard in G4, with good results.

Zhang Shilun scored 8 goals in the first 2 games. Even though the performance was at a low point, he continued to start. Hirano Keiichi once explained that Zhang Shilun and Zhang Renwei are still young. For the sake of the future of the team, he hopes to give them more experience. In addition, the team can reach the Taiwan competition because of his and Zhang Renwei's activities. However, as early as the training day before G3, Hirano told Zhang Shilun: "You will definitely come off tomorrow (G3), but if you let me see you lowering your head, I will replace you."

Zhang Shilun still didn't play well in G3. He was taken off the field after no hits in the first three games and was replaced by Yue Donghua. He revealed, "Maybe Hirano saw me frustrated and he didn't want me to be like this, so he took me off. I also feel that I shouldn't be like this. I am very lucky today. No matter good or bad, I have raised my head to face it."

Zhang Shilun finally hit TS' first hit today. He said frankly that it had been a while since his last hit. "I am very grateful to Coach Hirano for trusting me. That hit not only made me happy, but also made me feel that the coach trusted me so much. If I continue to keep my head down like this and fail to do something on the court, then I will also feel sorry for the team. Thank you for being brave."