Where: Jamsil Students’ Gymnasium 

When: Wednesday, December 17, 7 P.M. 

Team Records: Seoul SK Knights (1-1) / Utsunomiya Brex (1-1)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information 

‍

PROJECTED STARTERS 

Seoul SK Knights

PG: Kim Nak Hyun — 184cm / 88kg 

SG: Oh Jae Hyun — 186cm / 85kg

SF: Arvin Tolentino — 196cm / 95kg 

PF: Jameel Warney — 199cm / 112kg

C: Darryl Monroe — 198cm / 115kg

‍

Utsunomiya Brex

PG: D.J. Newbill — 193cm / 96kg

SG: Shinji Takashima — 191cm / 90kg

SF: Makoto Hiejima — 191cm / 87kg 

PF: Isaac Fotu — 203cm / 108kg

C: Gavin Edwards — 206cm / 112kg

‍

‍

‍TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Seoul SK Knights

Points: Jameel Warney — 28.5 

Rebounds: Jameel Warney — 9.0 

Assists: Darryl Monroe — 7.0 (T3rd in EASL)

Steals: Oh Jaehyun — 5.0 (1st in EASL)

Blocks: Jameel Warney — 2.0 

‍

Utsunomiya Brex

Points: D.J. Newbill — 30.0 (3rd in EASL)

Rebounds: Isaac Fotu — 10.0 

Assists: D.J. Newbill — 7.0 (T3rd in EASL)

Steals: Makoto Hiejima — 2.0 

Blocks: Makoto Hiejima — 0.5

‍

‍

THE RUNDOWN 

The Utsunomiya Brex travel to Korea to face the Seoul SK Knights in a Group A matchup that will complete the season series. When the teams first met on October 22, Utsunomiya won 97-89 to move to 1 1, while Seoul was playing its EASL season-opener. The Knights have since responded with a 94-87 win over Hong Kong Eastern, bringing them to 1-1 as well.

In the first meeting between the two sides, Utsunomiya’s Isaac Fotu and D.J. Newbill combined for 58 points to lead the Brex. Seoul SK kept pace behind a huge night from Asian import Arvin Tolentino, who scored 29 points, knocked down six 3 pointers, and shot better than 60 percent from the field in the loss.

With the P. LEAGUE+’s Taipei Fubon Braves sitting top of the group, unbeaten, and Eastern at the bottom at 0 2, the stakes are clear. The winner of this game can move into sole possession of a playoff position in Group A.

Both teams have played only two EASL games so far, meaning the race will ultimately be shaped in the first two months of 2026. Still, getting a result here would be a major step toward locking in a postseason spot.

‍

‍

THE SK KNIGHTS

‍
The Seoul SK Knights enter this matchup after not playing for a little over a month, with their last outing coming on November 12 against Hong Kong Eastern. This time, however, Seoul will be without its top local scorer from that win and a member of EASL’s November Team of the Month, Lee Minseo, who is sidelined with an injury.

Domestically, the Knights have recovered from a slow start and now sit fifth in the KBL standings at 12-10. They most recently defeated the Suwon KT Sonicboom behind a standout performance from import center Jameel Warney, who recorded the seventh triple-double of his KBL career with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. Fellow import Darryl Monroe Jr. also recently reached the 1,600 point mark in the KBL.

Seoul’s frontcourt duo of Warney and Monroe will be tested by a strong Utsunomiya pairing in Isaac Fotu and Gavin Edwards. In the backcourt, Oh Jaehyun, the current EASL steals leader, will set the tone defensively, while reigning KBL MVP An Young Jun and Asian import Arvin Tolentino will be relied upon to carry the local scoring load. The two have combined to average 25.4 points per game in the KBL this season, with An remaining Seoul’s top local scorer. 

‍

‍

‍THE BREX

The ever-consistent Utsunomiya Brex are back in EASL action against the same opponent they last faced and beat, only this time on the road.

Everything for Utsunomiya runs through two-time B LEAGUE MVP D.J. Newbill, who has been a force on offense in both competitions. In EASL, Newbill leads the Brex in both points and assists, and those numbers rank third in the league in each category. In the B LEAGUE, he is averaging 20.0 points and 6.9 assists, which rank fourth and second in the league, respectively.

Alongside Newbill, Isaac Fotu has been outstanding in EASL play, averaging 28.5 points and 10.0 rebounds across two games, making him one of only eight players currently averaging a double-double.

Domestically, the reigning champions have continued to roll, sitting third in the East Division at 18 and 5. One notable team strength has been ball movement, with Utsunomiya ranking third in the league at 22.5 assists per game. Newbill has consistently created quality looks for scorers such as Makoto Hiejima on the wing and big man Gavin Edwards inside.

‍

‍

SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

‍KBL vs. BLG

With Seoul SK against Utsunomiya being one of two B.LEAGUE vs KBL matchups on EASL’s December 17 gameday, recent history also comes into focus. Across EASL’s three seasons, B.LEAGUE teams hold a 6-2 edge over KBL opposition dating back to the 2023 24 season. The most recent KBL victory over a B.LEAGUE side came just over a year ago on December 4, 2024, when Suwon KT edged the Hiroshima Dragonflies 80 to 78 in Group A. Hiroshima would later go on to win the EASL championship.

Can the KBL begin to close the gap on Wednesday?