Where: Taoyuan Arena

When: Sunday, December 14, 5 p.m. CST

Team Records: Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (2-1) / Macau Black Bears (0-2)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information 

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PROJECTED STARTERS 

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

PG: Pai Yao Cheng — 182cm / 77kg

SG: Lu Chun Hsiang — 188cm / 82kg

SF: Setric Milner Jr. — 198cm / 92kg 

PF: Will Artino — 210cm / 111kg

C: Alec Brown — 216cm / 107kg

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Macau Black Bears 

PG: Damian Chong Qui — 172cm / 70kg

SG: Phoenix Shackelford — 190cm / 86kg

SF: Lao Chong Pong — 191cm / N/A

PF: Omari Peek-Green  — 198cm / 99kg 

C: Samuel Deguara — 230cm / 130kg

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‍TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

Points: Lu Chun Hsiang — 18.3

Rebounds: Will Artino — 13.3 (3rd in EASL)
Assists: Pai Yao Cheng — 3.3
Steals: William Artino — 2.0

Blocks: Alec Brown — 1.7 

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Macau Black Bears

Points: Damian Chong Qui — 24.5 

Rebounds: Sam Deguara — 13.0
Assists: Damian Chong Qui — 6.5
Steals: Phoenix Shackelford — 2.5

Blocks: Sam Deguara — 2.0

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THE RUNDOWN 

The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Macau Black Bears meet for the first time ever on Sunday, December 14, at Taoyuan Arena. At 2–1, the Pilots sit on top of Group B, while the Black Bears are 0–2 after back-to-back losses to the PBA’s Meralco Bolts.

This matchup features high-level battles in both the backcourt and frontcourt. Two standout guards, Lu Chun-Hsiang and Damian Chongqui, will go head to head, entering the game with team-high scoring averages of 18.3 and 24.5 points per game, respectively. In the paint, Macau’s center Sam Deguara, the tallest active professional basketball player, will square off with Taoyuan big man Alec Brown, the reigning EASL blocks leader from 2024–25 with 14 blocks in 8 games.

The result could significantly reshape the Group B standings. A Taoyuan loss would drop the Pilots to 2–2 and cost them the top spot in the group, which they have held since the season opener on October 8, while a Macau win would move the Black Bears to 1–2 at the midway point of their 2025–26 campaign. On the other side, a Taoyuan victory would lift the Pilots to a comfortable 3–1 and push Macau to 0–3, placing the Black Bears on the brink of elimination.

THE PILOTS

Taoyuan got off to a fast start in the 2025–26 campaign, opening with back-to-back home wins over the Ryukyu Golden Kings and Meralco. However, the reigning P. LEAGUE+ champions suffered their first loss of the season on the road in a rematch against the Bolts on November 8.

A major factor for Taoyuan could be the return of star import forward Treveon Graham. The former NBA journeyman was outstanding for the Pilots during their run to the 2024–25 EASL championship game, but he has yet to play this season due to an ACL injury. Graham averaged 21.9 points and 7.8 rebounds last campaign, finishing second in total points scored behind teammate Lu Chun-Hsiang. There is a strong chance he makes his season debut on Sunday.

In his absence, Setric Millner Jr. has been a reliable replacement. The second-year pro is averaging 13.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while often drawing the assignment of guarding the opposition’s best forwards. He will be called upon again if Graham is still not at 100 percent by the weekend.

At the core of Taoyuan’s attack remains Lu, who continues to serve as the focal point. He has met expectations this season and recently reached the 200-point mark with a team-high scoring performance against Meralco in the Pilots’ most recent outing.

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THE BLACK BEARS

The Macau Black Bears head into this game against Taoyuan looking more promising than ever. After a heavy 92–74 loss to Meralco in their 2025–26 season opener on November 15, MBB bounced back with an impressive performance in the December 6 rematch, pushing the Philippine side to a tight 93–91 result. They also welcomed back 7-foot-6 center Sam Deguara, who posted 11 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks in his season debut.

Point guard Damian Chong Qui was the star of that contest, exploding for 22 of his 24 points in the second half while adding nine assists to just one turnover. His late pull-up transition three with 36 seconds left pulled the Black Bears within a single possession and underlined his status as a go-to closer. Chong Qui is now averaging 24.5 points and 6.5 assists this season and sits just six points away from joining the EASL career 200-point club.

The December 6 game did more than solidify Chong Qui as one of the most dangerous score-first guards in Asia – it also highlighted the impact of Phoenix Shackelford and Omari Peek-Green, who combined for 50 points and 14 rebounds. Peek-Green finished with a 26-point, 11-rebound double-double, and the duo consistently put pressure on Meralco’s defense as perfect complements to Chong Qui’s attacking style. 

With that trio finding rhythm and Deguara back in the lineup, there is a very real possibility that the 0–2 Black Bears can finally put it all together, upset the reigning EASL runners-up, and change the tone of their season.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

A FAMILIAR FOE 

This may be the first meeting between these two teams, but for one Pilots player, the Macau Black Bears are very familiar opponents. Forward Will Artino suited up for Macau in four of their six regular-season games during the 2024–25 EASL campaign, putting up a huge 18.0 points, 14.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Fast forward to today, and he has been one of Taoyuan’s best players, as well as one of the top forwards in the league, averaging 15.3 points and 13.3 rebounds through three games and ranking fourth in total rebounds with 40.

Heading into Sunday’s game, Artino is just three rebounds shy of becoming the sixth player ever – and third this season – to reach 100 career EASL rebounds, with the majority of those coming from his time with Macau. It will be fascinating to see how he and current frontcourt partner Alec Brown handle the challenge of slowing down his former running mate, 7-foot-6 center Sam Deguara.