Game Notes: Group A – Taipei Fubon Braves (1-4) vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (3-2)

Fubon looks to move out of Group A basement with a win

February 7, 2024 – Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, Taipei

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Storylines:

Can a consolation game jumpstart Fubon domestically?‍

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While this game may not impact the EASL standings, the Taipei Fubon Braves will look to use it to spark the team’s season.

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The three-time defending P. LEAGUE+ champions have not performed to their usual dominant standards this season.

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Sporting a mediocre 10-9 record domestically, the team is currently third in the P. LEAGUE+ standings, trailing their EASL rivals the New Taipei Kings and the Formosa Dreamers.

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Dating back to December 17, they have lost eight of their last 14 games in EASL and P. LEAGUE+ combined, including defeats to the Group A basement dwellers TNT Tropang Giga and the Group A leaders the Chiba Jets.

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The Braves still have 22 P. LEAGUE+ games to go after their clash with Jung Kwan Jang. Can a strong performance help rally a turnaround for the champions of Chinese Taipei?

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Jung Kwan Jang needs a spark too‍

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The Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters were extremely strong last season, winning the EASL Champions Week while also taking home the KBL crown.

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This season is a different story.

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After starting this season with an impressive 10-4 record in the EASL and the KBL combined, Anyang has won just six of their following 29 games since November 24.

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Two of their six wins came against TNT Tropang Giga in EASL.

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Jung Kwan Jang has already booked a ticket to the Final Four in Cebu, Philippines in March. But the team could do with more wins to build momentum.

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Beating the Braves on Wednesday would help.

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Carter wins EASL Player of the Month in January‍

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Jung Kwan Jang forward Robert Carter Jr. was named EASL’s January Player of the Month.

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Carter has been a focal point in the Red Boosters’ offense since joining the team as a replacement for EASL Champions Week MVP Omari Spellman. Spellman left the team in December following a series of poor performances and injuries.

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In the two EASL games Carter played in January, he averaged 24.5 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and recorded 4.5 assists per game, helping Anyang book a ticket to the Final Four.

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Jung Kwan Jang will continue to rely on their big man if they want to make it deep into the Final Four.‍

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Players to Watch‍

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Taipei Fubon Braves (Chinese Taipei: P. LEAGUE)‍

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#5 Chris Johnson – PF

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- USA NCAA Division 1: Louisiana State (2005-2009)

2009 SEC All-Defensive Team

- Former NBA player (Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves)

NBA career stats: 71 games – 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg

- 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

- Chinese Taipei: P. LEAGUE+ - Taipei Fubon Braves

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

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

22.0 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.7 bpg

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stats:

18.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.6 apg

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#17 Michael Singletary – PF

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- USA NCAA Division 1: Texas Tech (2007-2011)

- Former NBA D League player (Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Erie Bayhawks)

2013 NBA D-League champion (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

- Chinese Taipei: P. LEAGUE+ - Taipei Fubon Braves

3× P. LEAGUE+ champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
2× P. LEAGUE+ Finals MVP (2021, 2022)

- Thailand League: Mono Vampire

2017 Thailand League champion
2017 Thailand League MVP
2x Thailand Basketball Super League (2017, 2018)
2018 Thailand Basketball Super League MVP

- Italy: Serie A2 - Basket Ravenna Piero Manetti

2015 Serie A2 Basket All-Star

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

27.5 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.0 spg

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stats:

21.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.4 spg

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#2 Sedrick Barefield – PG

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- 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)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

17.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stats:

6.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 4.0 apg‍

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

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#4 Robert Carter Jr. – PF

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- USA NCAA Division I: Georgia Tech (2012-14); Maryland (2015-16)

- Career team history:

Italy: Serie A – Enel Brindisi (2016-17)
Lithuania: LKL – Lietuvos rytas (2017)
Turkey: TBL – Gaziantep Basketbol (2017-18)
Turkey: TBSL – Afyon Belediye S.K. (2018-19)
Japan: B.LEAGUE – Shimane Susanoo Magic (2019-20); Yokohama B-Corsairs (2020-21); San-en NeoPhoenix (2021-22)
Israel: BSL – Bnei Herzliya (2022-23)
South Korea: KBL – Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2023-)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

24.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.5 apg

- 2023-24 KBL season stats:

19.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.4 apg

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#99 Jamil Wilson – SF

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- USA NCAA Division I: Oregon (2009-10); Marquette (2011-14)

- Former NBA player (Los Angeles Clippers)

NBA career stats: 7.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 10 starts

- Former NBA D-League/G League player (Bakersfield Jam, Texas Legends, Agua Caliente Clippers, Fort Wayne Mad Ants)

- Career team history:

Puerto Rico: BSN – Cangrejeros de Santurce (2016); Piratas de Quebradillas (2022); Vaqueros de Bayamón (2023); Leones de Ponce (2023);
Italy: Serie A - Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino (2016-17, 2018-19); Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2018); Virtus Roma (2020)
Russia: VTB United League - UNICS Kazan (2019-20)
Israel: BSL – Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. (2020-21); Liga Leumit – Maccabi Rishon Lezion (2021-22)
Mexico: LNBP – Plateros de Fresnillo (2022, 2023)
Lithuania: LKL – Labas GAS (2022-23)
Venezuela: SPB – Guaros de Lara (2023)
Philippines: PBA – Converge FiberXers (2023-24)
South Korea: KBL – Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2024-)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

15.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 4.0 apg

- 2023-24 KBL season stats:

9.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg

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#6 Park Ji Hoon – PG

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- University: Chung-Ang University

Korea: 2^nd in KUSF Scoring (2017)

- South Korea: KBL

2016 KBL Draft: 6^th overall pick (Busan KT Sonicboom)
Korea: 2x KBL Champion (Anyang KGC: 2020-21, 2022-23)

- South Korea National Basketball Team

39th Lee Sang Baek Cup Korea x Japan University Basketball Tournament National Team
2017 Taipei Summer Universiade men's Basketball Team

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

9.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.8 apg

- 2023-24 KBL season stats:

12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.2 apg‍

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By the Numbers‍

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

- Team History:

Founded: 1982

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

- 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

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

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 1-4

October 18, 2023: 82-85 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
October 25, 2023: 98-77 loss against Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL)
November 15, 2023: 106-97 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
December 20, 2023: 80-69 loss against TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
December 27, 2023: 76-60 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: Michael Singletary – 27.5 ppg
Rebounds: Michael Singletary – 14.0 rpg
Assists: Michael Singletary – 5.0 apg
Steals: 3 players – 2.0 spg
Blocks: Chris Johnson – 1.7 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

Home vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – February 7, 2024

- 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

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Season record: 10-9

November 11, 2023: 89-96 loss against New Taipei Kings
November 12, 2023: 115-94 win over Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
November 19, 2023: 89-86 loss against Formosa Dreamers
November 26, 2023: 99-84 win over Hsinchu Lioneers
December 2, 2023: 90-76 loss against Formosa Dreamers
December 9, 2023: 93-80 win over Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
December 16, 2023: 111-104 win over Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
December 17, 2023: 103-102 loss against Hsinchu Lioneers
December 23, 2023: 111-106 loss against New Taipei Kings
December 31, 2023: 104-96 win over New Taipei Kings
January 7, 2024: 100-71 loss against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
January 9, 2024: 96-87 loss against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
January 14, 2024: 94-84 win over Formosa Dreamers
January 20, 2024: 77-72 loss against Hsinchu Lioneers
January 27, 2024: 103-98 win over Formosa Dreamers
January 28, 2024: 106-83 win over Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
January 31, 2024: 111-104 win over Formosa Dreamers
February 3, 2024: 90-89 loss against Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers
February 4, 2024: 109-103 win over Hsinchu Lioneers

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stat leaders:

Points: Michael Singletary – 21.2 ppg
Rebounds: Stephen Zimmerman – 10.0 rpg
Assists: Michael Singletary – 4.5 apg
Steals: Lai Ting-En – 1.7 spg
Blocks: Justin Patton – 1.0 bpg‍

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

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- Team History:

Founded: 1992
EASL Champions Week Champions (2023)
4x KBL Champions (2011-12, 2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23)

- 2023 KBL Champions

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

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 3-2

October 25, 2023: 98-77 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)
December 6, 2023: 105-97 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
December 13, 2023: 102-69 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
January 10, 2024: 115-98 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
January 24, 2024: 88-76 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: Robert Carter Jr. – 24.5 ppg
Rebounds: Jamil Wilson – 14.0 rpg
Assists: Park Ji Hoon – 5.8 apg
Steals: Park Ji Hoon – 1.2 spg
Blocks: Jamil Wilson – 3.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

Away vs. Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) – February 7, 2024

- 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.

- 2023-24 KBL season record: 13-25