FINAL FOUR THIRD-PLACE GAME NOTES: New Taipei Kings (4-3) vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (5-2)

EASL rivals meet for the fifth time in the EASL Final Four 2025 Third-Place Game.

March 8, 2025 — Studio City Event Center, Macau SAR

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Where to Watch:

The New Taipei Kings and Ryukyu Golden Kings tip off at 16:10 CT at Studio City Event Center in Macau. Here’s where you can watch the game:

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Chinese Taipei:

Live on Videoland (pay TV), Videoland’s Twitch and YouTube channels, and streaming platform PTS+ (OTT).

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Japan:

Live on U-NEXT (Japanese streaming platform).

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Outside These Regions:

Visit the “Watch” tab on the EASL website for streaming options in your area.

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Get Your Tickets: Studio City Macau

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Storylines:

Crushing Losses in the Semifinals

The EASL Final Four 2025 began with heartbreak for both teams.

In the first semifinal, the New Taipei Kings went toe-to-toe with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the first half, carrying a one-point lead into the break. But Hiroshima dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 28-19. New Taipei collapsed offensively in the fourth, managing just five points as Hiroshima pulled away for an 81-65 win.

We had a chance. We had a chance in that game. One thing we can't do is continue to be sad because we still have a job to do. We know what's important, we don't want to go another year where we don't get another win here (in the Final Four). This is a major opportunity to still get a win and still place. So we need to flip our mindset quick. We need to be positive. We need to learn from this game. We got to be ready to go for the next one. We got to go up against great opponents from different places. We use that as fuel. We use that as a way to learn, and to continue to grow throughout the season. We need to do the same thing here. Doesn't matter good, bad, whatever comes of it. We still got a chance to win, but continue to grow long-term. It's not about losing this game, it's over. We got to learn from everything we do and grow from it." - New Taipei Kings Head Coach Ryan Marchand

In the second semifinal, Ryukyu struggled early against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, scoring just 28 points in the first half. The Golden Kings clawed back, cutting a 16-point deficit to one early in the fourth quarter. But the Pilots closed the game on a 13-7 run, capped by an Alec Brown 3-point dagger in the final minute, sealing Ryukyu’s fate in a 66-59 loss.

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Battle of the Kings - Part 5

This Third-Place Game marks the fifth meeting between the New Taipei Kings and Ryukyu Golden Kings in the past two seasons.

After splitting their season series last year, the teams found themselves in the same group once again this season.

Ryukyu struck first, defending their home court with an 82-74 win on Christmas Day, led by star guard Ryuichi Kishimoto’s 20 points, including a clutch 3-pointer late in the game.

Two weeks later, New Taipei responded with a dominant performance, routing Ryukyu by 36 points in a 99-63 victory—tied for the largest margin of the season—behind Jeremy Lin’s 26 points.

With the season series now knotted at 2-2, which team will take the edge and secure third place?

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Can They Find Their Shooting Touch?

Both teams struggled mightily from the field in the semifinals.

New Taipei, despite holding a one-point halftime lead, shot just 1-of-16 (6%) in the fourth quarter against Hiroshima. Their struggles extended to the free-throw line, where they went 3-for-6 in the final frame.

Ryukyu had one of its worst shooting performances of the season, hitting just 23-of-73 shots (31%) in its loss to the Pilots.

Will fans witness another defensive grind, or will both teams rediscover their offensive rhythm?

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New Taipei Kings (Chinese Taipei) Players to Watch:

#7 Jeremy Lin, Guard, 6-foot-2

2024-25 EASL Averages: 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists
2019 NBA Champion with Toronto Raptors
Lin spent time in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors (2010-11), New York Knicks (2011-12), Houston Rockets (2012-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15), Charlotte Hornets (2015-16), Brooklyn Nets (2016-18), Atlanta Hawks (2018-19), and Toronto Raptors (2019).
2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champion with New Taipei Kings
2024 P. LEAGUE+ Assists Leader with Kaohsiung 17Live Steelers
2020 Chinese CBA All-Star with Beijing Ducks
2x First-Team NCAA D-I All-Ivy League with Harvard University (2009, 2010)
2008 Second-Team NCAA D-I All-Ivy League with Harvard University
2012 Time 100: Most Influencial People of the Year
2012 ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2023
Lin attended college at Harvard University (2006-10)
Lin is from Paolo Alto, California, USA

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#31 Sani Sakakini, Forward, 6-feet-8

2024-25 EASL Averages: 18.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists
2x All-Jordanian League First Team with Al Riyadi Amman and Sarriyet Ramallah (2010, 2013)
2013 All-Jordanian League Center with Sarriyet Ramallah (Jordan)
2x Palestinian Basketball League Champion (2013, 2021)
2014 All-Chinese CBA Third Team with Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles (China)
2015 Jordanian League Champion with Orthodox Club (Jordan)
2015 All-Asian Championships Second Team with Orthodox Club (Jordan)
2x All-Chinese CBA Honorable Mentions with Jiangsu Tongxi and Tianjin Ronggang (2016, 2017)
2022 All-T1 League First Team with Taichung Wagor Suns (Chinese Taipei)
Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2024
Sakakini is from Ramallah, Palestine

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#55 Kenny Manigault, Forward, 6-foot-5

2024-25 EASL Averages: 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.7 steals
2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champion with New Taipei Kings
2023 P. LEAGUE+ Second Team with New Taipei Kings
2x P. LEAGUE+ Steals King (2023, 2024)
Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2022
Manigault attended college at the University of South Carolina, Aiken, and the University of Pikeville.
Manigault is from North Charleston, South Carolina, USA

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Ryukyu Golden Kings (Japan — B.LEAGUE) Players to Watch:

#14 Ryuichi Kishimoto — Guard, 5-foot-8

2024-25 EASL Averages: 12.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE All-Star with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2x bj League Champion with the Ryukyu Golden Kings (2013-14, 2015-16)
2013-14 bj League Playoff MVP with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2013-14 bj League Rookie of the Year with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2013.
Kishimoto attended Daito Bunka University
Kishimoto is from Nago City, Okinawa, Japan

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#45 Jack Cooley — Center, 6-foot-10

2024-25 EASL Averages: 17.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE All-Star with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2019
2019 FIBA Europe Cup Champion with Dinamo Sassari (ITA)
2012 Second-Team All-Big East with the University of Notre Dame
2012 Big East Most Improved Player with the University of Notre Dame
Cooley spent time in the NBA with the Utah Jazz (2015) and the Sacramento Kings (2017-18) after going undrafted in 2013
Cooley attended the University of Notre Dame (2009-13)
Cooley is from Evanston, Illinois, USA

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#12 Keve Aluma — Forward, 6-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Averages: 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists
2x Second-Team NCAA All-ACC with Virginia Tech University
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2024
Aluma attended college at Virginia Tech (2020-22)
Aluma is from Berlin, Maryland, USA.

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New Taipei Kings By the Numbers:

Team History

Founded in 2021
2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

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2024-25 EASL Results

2nd in Group B
Group stage record: 4-2
Game 1: 109-97 loss against Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Oct. 23, 2024
Game 2: 114-95 win against Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Dec. 11, 2024
Game 3: 82-74 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 25, 2024
Game 4: 99-63 win against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 8, 2025
Game 5: 104-87 win against Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Jan. 21, 2025
Game 6: 106-96 (2OT) win against Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Feb. 12, 2025
Final Four Semifinal: 81-65 loss against Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Mar. 7, 2025

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

Points: Sani Sakakini — 18.1 ppg
Rebounds: Kenny Manigault Jr. — 9.3 rpg
Assists: Kenny Manigaults Jr. — 4.7 apg
Steals: Kenny Manigault Jr. — 3.7 spg
Blocks: Jason Washburn — 1.0 bpg

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

EASL Final Four 2025 Third-Place Game vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Mar. 9, 2025

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Ryukyu Golden Kings By the Numbers

Team History

Founded in 2007
2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champions
4x bj League Champions (2009, 2012, 2014, 2016)
6x bj League Western Conference Champions
2018 EASL The Terrific 12 Champions

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2024-25 EASL Results

1st in Group B
Group stage record: 5-1
Game 1: 77-74 win against Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Oct. 16, 2024
Game 2: 96-93 win against Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Oct. 30, 2024
Game 3: 91-82 win against Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Dec. 4, 2024
Game 4: 82-74 win against New Taipei Kings — Dec. 25, 2024
Game 5: 99-63 loss against New Taipei Kings — Jan. 8, 2025
Game 6: 89-71 win against Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Jan. 22, 2025
Final Four Semifinal: 71-64 loss against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) — Mar. 7, 2025

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