October 25, 2023 – Anyang Gymnasium, Anyang, Korea

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Storylines:

1. Rematch of EASL Champions Week Group Stage

Anyang KGC and Taipei Fubon Braves tipped off EASL Champions Week in Japan this March that resulted in a KGC thrashing of the Braves, 94-69. Led by former NBA pro Omari Spellman (22 points, 8 rebounds) and Darryl Monroe (21 points, 25 rebounds), Anyang led from beginning to end, outscoring Taipei every quarter en route to a 25-point victory.

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Will we see an encore of Anyang’s wrath?

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2. New identity, same dominance for Anyang?

Anyang KGC were dominant during EASL Champions Week, outscoring their opponents by 86 points in three games played, ultimately winning the title in Japan. But the team made a lot of changes this offseason, most notably, they rebranded their team and are now known as Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters.

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The roster looks a little different as well, as key players Oh Se Keun and Moon Seong Gon moved on to other clubs while team legend Yang Hee Jong has since retired.

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After dropping their opening game in the KBL this weekend against rivals Seoul SK Knights, will the game mid-week help the Red Boosters find their footing to regain their dominance on their court?

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3. Does Fubon have the brave heart to bounce back?

Taipei Fubon Braves are 0-1 after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Chiba Jets last week at home. The Braves played admirably throughout the game, leading for over 55 minutes before allowing Jets’ star Yuki Togashi to get hot from beyond the arc to help Chiba come back and beat Taipei, 85-82.

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Can the defending 3-time P. LEAGUE+ champions find their first EASL win since 2018?

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By the Numbers:

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Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (South Korea - KBL)

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- 2023 KBL Champions

• Regular Season: 37-17 record, 1^st in KBL
• Playoffs: defeated Goyang Day One Jumpers 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Seoul SK Knights 4-3 in Finals

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Braves went 3-0, defeating P. LEAGUE+ side Taipei Fubon Braves 94-69 and PBA side San Miguel Beermen 142-87 in the Group Stage. KGC defeated Seoul SK Knights 90-84 in the Final to win EASL Champions Week.

- Team History:

• EASL Champions Week Champions (2023)
• 4x KBL Champions (2011-12, 2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23)

- KBL 2023-24 season record: 0-1

• October 21, 2023: 89-74 loss to Seoul SK Knights

- KBL stat leaders:

• Points: Darryl Monroe – 21.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Du’vaughn Maxwell – 9.0 rpg
• Assists: Choi Seong Won – 6.0 apg
• Steals: Darryl Monroe & Du’vaughn maxwell – 1.0 spg
• Blocks: Kim Kyung Won – 2.0 bpg

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Taipei Fubon Braves (Chinese Taipei - P. LEAGUE+)

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- 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

• Regular Season: 25-15 record, 2^nd in P. LEAGUE+
• Playoffs: defeated Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 3-0 in semifinals; defeated New Taipei Kings 4-2 in finals

- EASL History

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Braves went 0-2, losing to KBL side Anyang KGC and B.LEAGUE side Ryukyu Golden Kings
• 2018 Terrific 12 (an EASL competition): Braves went 1-1, defeating CBA side Shandong Golden Stars and losing to KBL side Seoul Samsung Thunders  

- Team History:

• 3x P. LEAGUE+ Championships (2021, 2022, 2023)
• 1x SBL Championship (2019)

- EASL record: 0-1

• October 18, 2023: 82-85 loss to Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)

- EASL stat leaders:  

• Points: Michael Singletary – 29.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Michael Singletary – 18.0 rpg
• Assists: Sedrick Barefield & Michael Singletary – 4.0 apg
• Steals: Sedrick Barefield – 4.0 spg
• Blocks: Michael Singletary – 1.0 bpg

- EASL team stats:  

• Points per game: 82.0
• Field goal %: 38%
• Rebounds per game: 54.0
• Assists per game: 14.0

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Players to Watch:

Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters:

#86 Darryl Monroe – PF/C

- 2003 KBL champion

- 2023 EASL Champions Week champion

- USA NCAA Division 1: George Mason (2006-09)

• 2009 Second-team All-CAA

- Turkish First League champion (2018)

- Israeli League: Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016

• Israeli League champion (2016)
• Israeli League MVP (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)
• All-Israeli League First Team (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)
• FIBA Europe Cup Starting Five (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)

- Italy A2 League: Scaligera Verona - 2015

• Italian Second League MVP (Scaligera Verona - 2015)
• Italian Second Cup winner (Scaligera Verona - 2015)

- France: Boulazac Dordogne - 2013

• French League All-Star (2013)

- 2023-24 KBL Stats: 21.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 64% FG

#32 Lee Jong Hyun – C

- University: Korea University

• Korea: 2013 MBC Cup Winner (Korea University)
• Korea: 2013 MBC Cup MVP (Korea University)

- South Korea: KBL

• 2016 KBL Draft: 1^st overall pick
• Korea: 2019 KBL Champion (Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus)

- South Korea National Basketball Team

• 2014 FIBA World Cup blocks leader (2.6 bpg)
• 2014 Asian Games Gold Medalist (South Korea)
• 2017 EABA Championship Silver Medalist
• 2x FIBA Asia Cup Bronze Medalist (2013, 2017)
• 2016 William Jones Cup Silver Medalist

- 2023-24 KBL Stats: 11.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 100% FG

#12 Rhenz Abando – SG/SF

- South Korea: KBL

• 2023 KBL champion (Anyang KGC)
• 2023 KBL regular season champion (Anyang KGC)
• 2023 KBL Slam Dunk Contest champion
• 2023 KBL 3x3 All-Star Game champion

- University: Letran (Philippines)

• 2021 NCAA Philippines champion (Letran)
• 2021 NCAA Philippines Most Valuable Player (Letran)
• 2021 NCAA Philippines Mythical Five (Letran)
• 2021 NCAA Philippines Rookie of the Year (Letran)

- 2023-24 KBL Stats: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 35% FG

Taipei Fubon Braves:

#5 Chris Johnson – PF

- Chinese Taipei: P. LEAGUE+

• 3x P. LEAGUE+ champion (Taipei Fubon Braves: 2021, 2022, 2023)

- University: 

• USA NCAA Division 1: Louisiana State (2005-2009)
• 2009 SEC All-Defensive Team

- USA: NBA

• Former NBA player (Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves)
• NBA career stats: 71 games – 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg

- USA: NBA D League

• Former NBA D League player (Dakota Wizards, Santa Cruz Warriors)
• 2011 All-NBA D-League First Team
• 2011 NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year
• 2011 NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team
• 2011 NBA D-League All Star

#2 Sedrick Barefield – PG

- USA NCAA Division 1: SMU (2015-16), Utah (2016-19)

• 2019 First-Team All-Pac 12 (Utah)

- Former NBA G League player (Oklahoma City Blue)

- Previous teams played:

• Lithuania (LKL: Nevėžis Kėdainiai)
• Greece (GBL: Apollon Patras)
• Chinese Taipei (T1 League: Tainan TSG GhostHawks)
• EASL (Bay Area Dragons)
• Guinea (BAL: SLAC)

- 2023-24 EASL Stats: 29.0 ppg, 18.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg

#32 Ihor Zaytsev – C

- Chinese Taipei: P. LEAGUE+

• 3x P. LEAGUE+ champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
• 2021 P. LEAGUE+ Import of the Year

- 2019 SBL Best Foreign Player of the year

- 2016 Polish Cup winner

- 2015 Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague champion

- 2023-24 EASL Stats: 11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg

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What he said:

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NOTE: Live stream of the post-game press conference will proceed after the game.

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Taipei Fubon Braves Head Coach Hsu Chin-Che:

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On the adjustments going into the Braves' second game:

"First, we need to make an adjustment to is our lineup, or our imports. A couple of our older players are staying in Taiwan, so we want some of our younger players to get involved with the game more."

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On playing against Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters:

"Talking about KGC here, they have been a good team in the KBL. They have been winning a lot. Also, they were in Taiwan in August, playing in the Jones Cup. So we might go through the films from the Jones Cup, get prepared for the game."

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