Game Notes: Group A – Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2-0) vs. Chiba Jets (3-0)

Heavyweights look to stay undefeated

December 13, 2023 – Anyang Gymnasium, Anyang, South Korea

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Storylines:‍

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Unstoppable force meets immovable object

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There is little doubt that this is an encounter between two of Asia’s best teams.

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Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters are essentially the reigning EASL champions, having won Champions Week back in March. They are also the current champions of the Korean Basketball League.

Chiba Jets topped the B.LEAGUE regular season in 2022-23 and were hotly tipped to win the championship before they fell to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the Finals.

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Chiba lead Group A with a 3-0 record. The Red Boosters are right behind them on 2-0.

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The Jets haven’t played an EASL game since November 1, when they defeated TNT Tropang Giga by nine. They are giving up just 74.3 points a game in EASL. But their defense will be tested against a high-flying Jung Kwan Jang, who are putting up a league-leading 101.5 points a game.

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It is hard to pick a winner in this clash between high-octane offense and stout defense.

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Spellman leaves Anyang

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EASL Champions Week MVP Omari Spellman has left Jung Kwan Jang on Tuesday.

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Spellman was injured in the preseason with a knee problem. The former NBA pro, who averaged 31.3 points in three games during Champions Week, scored just seven points in his EASL 2023-24 Season debut, in over 18 minutes of play.

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Darryl Monroe has stepped up as the team's lone import. Against TNT, Monroe recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, just an assist shy of a triple-double.

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Jung Kwan Jang are averaging a league-leading 101.5 points a game this season. Can the team continue to thrive without their star big man?

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Jets seek consistency‍

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While the Jets are on a perfect 3-0 in EASL, they are struggling to find consistency in the B.LEAGUE.

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Since their last EASL victory against TNT on November 1, they have failed to string together three straight wins domestically and currently sit ninth in the B.LEAGUE standings with an 11-8 record.

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Japan national team captain Yuki Togashi has cooled off after a hot start to the season, averaging 15.8 points in his last eight games. The Jets star was averaging 21.8 points in his first 10 games of the season across the B.LEAGUE and EASL.

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Let’s see if the Jets can rediscover that early-season form in Korea.

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‍By the Numbers

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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: 2-0

October 25, 2023: 98-77 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)
December 6, 2023: 105-97 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: Darryl Monroe – 19.0 ppg
Rebounds: Darryl Monroe – 9.5 rpg
Assists: Darryl Monroe – 9.5 apg
Steals: 8 Players – 1.0 spg
Blocks: 4 Players – 1.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

Home vs. Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE) – December 13, 2023
Away vs. Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE) – January 10, 2024
Away vs. TNT Tropang Giga (PBA) – January 24, 2024
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: 9-11

October 21, 2023: 89-74 loss against Seoul SK Knights
October 28, 2023: 63-59 win over Suwon KT Sonicboom
October 31, 2023: 86-75 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
November 2, 2023: 96-74 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
November 4, 2023: 84-82 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
November 5, 2023: 91-80 win over Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
November 7, 2023: 74-72 win over Busan KCC Egis
November 10, 2023: 99-94 win over Wonju DB Promy
November 12, 2023: 85-71 win over Changwon LG Sakers
November 14, 2023: 81-63 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
November 17, 2023: 106-77 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
November 19, 2023: 84-74 win over Busan KCC Egis
November 21, 2023: 98-93 win over Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
November 24, 2023: 94-85 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
November 26, 2023: 97-80 loss against Wonju DB Promy
November 28, 2023: 86-82 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
December 1, 2023: 108-77 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
December 3, 2023: 85-71 loss against Seoul SK Knights
December 9, 2023: 93-78 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
December 10, 2023: 88-83 loss against Wonju DB Promy

- 2023-24 KBL Season stat leaders:

Points: Park Ji Hoon – 12.9 ppg
Rebounds: Darryl Monroe – 6.7 rpg
Assists: Park Ji Hoon – 4.2 apg
Steals: Park Ji Hoon – 1.2 spg
Blocks: Du’Vaughn Maxwell – 1.4 bpg

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‍Chiba Jets (Japan – B.LEAGUE)

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- Team History:

Founded: 2005
2020-21 B.LEAGUE Champions
Emperor’s Cup Champions (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)

- 2022-23 B.LEAGUE season:

Runners up in 2022-23 B.LEAGUE season
B.LEAGUE record 53 regular season wins
Loss just seven games all season
Embarked on a 24-game winning streak from December 2022 to March 2023
First on offense: scored 87.9 points per game
Fifth on defense: conceded 74.8 points per game
Playoffs: defeated Hiroshima Dragonflies 2-1 in quarterfinals; defeated Alvark Tokyo 2-0 in semifinals; lost to Ryukyu Golden Kings 2-0 in B.LEAGUE Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 3-0

October 11, 2023: 93-75 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
October 18, 2023: 85-82 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)
November 1, 2023: 75-66 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

Points: John Mooney – 30.0 ppg
Rebounds: John Mooney – 16.0 rpg
Assists: Yuki Togashi – 5.3 apg
Steals: John Mooney – 3.0 spg
Blocks: D.J. Stephens – 2.7 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

Away vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – December 13, 2023
Home vs. Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) – December 27, 2023
Home vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – January 10, 2024

- EASL History:

2019 Terrific 12: The Jets went 1-1, beating PBA side Blackwater Elite before losing to KBL side Seoul SK Knights.
2018 Terrific 12: The Jets went 0-2, falling to CBA side Guangzhou Loong Lions and KBL side Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
2017 Super 8: The Jets went 3-0, beating CBA side Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Chinese Taipei side Taipei Fubon Braves, and KBL side Seoul Samsung Thunders.
The Jets beat KBL side Goyang Orions in the semifinals, before beating Zhejiang again to win the 2017 EASL Super 8 tournament.

- 2023-24 B.LEAGUE Season record: 11-8