Where: Xinzhuang Gymnasium 

When: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m. CST

Team Records: New Taipei Kings (1-2) / Changwon LG Sakers (0-2)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information

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‍Projected Starters 

New Taipei Kings

PG: Lin Yan Ting — 185cm / 85kg

SG: Chien You Che — 180cm / 80kg

SF: Austin Daye — 207cm / 91kg

PF: Jayden Gardner — 210cm / 104kg

C: Sani Sakakini — 204cm / 102kg

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Changwon LG Sakers

PG: Han Sanghyeok — 183cm / 78kg

SG: Bae Byungjun — 191cm / 85kg

SF: Carl Tamayo — 202cm / 98kg 

PF: Assem Marei — 204cm / 113kg

C: Michael Eric — 211cm / 114kg 

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TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

New Taipei Kings 

Points: Sani Sakakini — 27.0
Rebounds: Jayden Gardner — 11.0
Assists: Lin Yan Ting, Joseph Lin — 3.3 

Steals: Gardner, Lee Kai Yan — 1.3 

Blocks: Sani Sakakini — 0.7 

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‍Changwon LG Sakers 

Points: Assem Marei — 16.0
Rebounds: Assem Marei — 14.0

Assists: Yang Junseok — 9.0 

Steals: 4 LG players average 0.5 steals 

Blocks: Michael Eric — 3.0 

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THE RUNDOWN 

It’s a Group C rematch between the New Taipei Kings and the Changwon LG Sakers. The two last met on October 30 in Changwon, South Korea, where NTK went on the road and grabbed a 90–78 win. That night was all Sani Sakakini, as the import forward poured in 33 points, hit six threes, and added nine rebounds. Since then, LG has dropped another game on the road to fall to 0–2, but now has an opportunity to pick up its first EASL win on Wednesday.

At this stage, a win is crucial for both LG and New Taipei. A loss for LG would drop the Sakers to 0–3, making them the only winless EASL team to reach the midpoint of the 2025–26 season. While that would not completely rule them out of postseason contention, they would likely need to be perfect the rest of the way and still need help to advance. 

For NTK, there is slightly more margin for error, but getting back to 2–2 would be a big step, likely lifting them into second place despite having played more games than the B.LEAGUE’s Alvark Tokyo. 

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THE KINGS 

With the FIBA international break looming, the biggest question for New Taipei is the availability of star local guards Lee Kai-Yan and Joseph Lin, who have both been called up to Chinese Taipei’s training camp. If they are unable to play, the Kings will have to lean even more on Sani Sakakini, who has been outstanding to start the season.

Through three games, last year’s All-EASL Team honoree is averaging 27 points and 9.3 rebounds and has been at the center of New Taipei’s success. Even in the Kings’ two losses to Alvark and the Xac Broncos, Sakakini stood out as a consistent bright spot, keeping his team in the game from start to finish. Import forward Jayden Gardner has also been impressive, quietly posting a dominant double-double average of 24.3 points and 11 rebounds.

If the Kings want to take this one and head into the second half of their season on a positive note, they will need big performances from Austin Daye and the backup local guards who may be asked to step up in the absence of Lin and Lee. One name to watch is Lin Yan-Ting, a former two-year CBA player acquired in the offseason, who could be called on to play a larger role.

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THE LG SAKERS 

The LG Sakers’ biggest boost for this game is the return of Assem Marei to the travel list after the import big was ruled out of their last outing – a 105–77 loss to Group C leaders Xac Broncos on November 5. In his EASL debut against New Taipei, Marei posted a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double, with his rebounding still sitting among the top five marks in the league’s current leaders.

Another player who feels due for a breakout performance is Asian import Carl Tamayo. The Philippine international has been excellent in the KBL, averaging a team-high 18 points while shooting just under 50 percent from the field and helping LG climb back to the top of the standings at 12–4. So far, though, he has yet to reach his full potential in EASL play.

As mentioned, a win would go a long way for LG, but a loss would leave the top team in Korea in a deep hole in Group C.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

NEW-LOOK NTK

It’s a rematch from less than three weeks ago, but it’s a very different New Taipei Kings squad. Not because of a major roster shake-up, but because the team has a new head coach – one who was actually listed as a player the last time NTK faced LG: Hung Chih-Shan.

On November 11, New Taipei released head coach John Patrick — the former EASL-winning coach with the Chiba Jets — and appointed Hung as interim head coach. Hung, who suited up as a backup shooting guard for NTK’s first three EASL games and is in his third straight EASL season with the team, will now swap his jersey for a polo on the sideline as he aims to guide the Kings to their second EASL win of the 2025-26 campaign.