October 17, 2023

Game Notes: Group A - Taipei Fubon Braves (0-0) vs. Chiba Jets (1-0)

00 min read

Game Notes: Group A - Taipei Fubon Braves (0-0) vs. Chiba Jets (1-0)

Written By

Game Notes: Group A - Taipei Fubon Braves (0-0) vs. Chiba Jets (1-0)

Fubon Braves host undefeated Jets in season debut

October 18, 2023 – National Taiwan University Sports Center, Taipei, Chinese Taipei

Storylines:

Can the Braves’ new imports help them get over the international barrier?

  1. Taipei Fubon Braves are coming off a three-peat season, winning the P. LEAGUE+ for the third straight year. However, their success in Chinese Taipei hasn’t yet translated to the international stage. This is their third EASL appearance, having gone 1-1 in the 2018 Terrific 12 and 0-2 in EASL Champions Week. The team also added new imports this offseason, signing former Bay Area Dragon Sedrick Barefield and former NBA pro Stephen Zimmerman. Can the Braves translate dominance at home onto the international stage in EASL?

 

Who will win the battle of the boys of 1982?

  1. Two 41-year-olds face off in this game. Taipei Fubon Braves’ Lin Chih-Chieh is a six-time all-star in the CBA, and is coming off a championship-winning season, averaging 9.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. On the other side, Chiba Jets’ Ira Brown is coming off Player of the Game honors in his first EASL game this season, against TNT Tropang Giga, recording 19 points and 12 rebounds. Which of these decorated vets will have a bigger impact on the game?

Will the Jets run out of fuel?

  1. Chiba Jets will be playing their sixth game in 11 days, including four B.LEAGUE games and the EASL game last midweek. Adding the travel to Taipei, will the Jets have stamina for a tough game against the Braves?

By the Numbers:

Taipei Fubon Braves

- 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

- 2023 EASL Champions Week: Braves went 0-2, losing to KBL side Anyang KGC and B.LEAGUE side Ryukyu Golden Kings

- 2018 Terrific 12 (an EASL competition): Braves went 1-1, defeating CBA side Shandong Golden Stars and losing to KBL side Seoul Samsung Thunders  

- 2023 P. LEAGUE+:  

  • Regular Season: 25-15 record, 2nd in P. LEAGUE+
  • Playoffs: defeated Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 3-0 in semifinals; defeated New Taipei Kings 4-2 in finals

- Team History:

  • 3x P. LEAGUE+ Championships (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • 1x SBL Championship (2019)

Chiba Jets

- EASL record: 1-0

  • October 11: 93-75 victory over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 season record: 2-2

  • October 8, 2023: 91-82 loss to Nagasaki Velca
  • October 9, 2023: 89-86 loss to Nagasaki Velca
  • October 14, 2023: 97-83 win over Shinshu Brave Warriors
  • October 15, 2023: 86-85 win over Shinshu Brave Warriors

- EASL stat leaders:  

  • Points: Ira Brown & D.J. Stephens – 19.0 ppg
  • Rebounds: Ira Brown – 12.0 rpg
  • Assists: Asato Ogawa – 6.0 apg
  • Steals: Marcus Tobin & Ira Brown – 1.0 spg
  • Blocks: Justyn Mutts – 2.0 bpg

- EASL team stats:

  • Points per game: 93.0
  • Field goal %: 46%
  • Rebounds per game: 42.0
  • Assists per game: 22.0

Players to Watch:

Taipei Fubon Braves:

#5 Chris Johnson – PF

  • 3x P. LEAGUE+ champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • USA NCAA Division 1: Louisiana State (2005-2009)
  • 2009 SEC All-Defensive Team
  • Former NBA player (Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves)
  • NBA career stats: 71 games – 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg
  • Former NBA D League player (Dakota Wizards, Santa Cruz Warriors)
  • 2011 All-NBA D-League First Team
  • 2011 NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2011 NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team
  • 2011 NBA D-League All Star

#9 Stephen Zimmerman – C

  • USA NCAA Division 1: UNLV (2015-2016)
  • Former NBA player (Orlando Magic)
  • 2016 NBA Draft: 2nd round, 41st overall pick – Detroit Pistons
  • NBA career stats: 19 games – 1.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg
  • Former NBA D League player (Erie Bayhawks, South Bay Lakers, Westchester Knicks, Austin Spurs)
  • 2015 McDonald’s All-American
  • 2014 FIBA Americas U-18 Championship Gold Medalist
  • 2018 FIBA AmeriCup Bronze Medalist

#32 Ihor Zaytsev – C

  • 3x P. LEAGUE+ champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • 2021 P. LEAGUE+ Import of the Year
  • 2019 SBL Best Foreign Player of the year
  • 2016 Polish Cup winner
  • 2015 Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague champion

Chiba Jets:

#50 Ira Brown – PF

  • USA NCAA Division 1: Gonzaga (2007-2009)
  • Japan: 2013 bj league Best 5
  • Japan National Team (2017 EABA Championship: Bronze)
  • EASL Stats: 19.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 72% FG

#20 D.J. Stephens – SF

  • Former NBA player (Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies)
  • 2023 All-EuroCup First Team (Prometey)
  • 2× Ukrainian SuperLeague champion (Budivelnyk - 2017, Prometey - 2021)
  • Ukrainian SuperLeague Best Five (Prometey - 2021)
  • France: Pro A champion (Le Mans - 2018)
  • EASL Stats: 19.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 bpg, 50% FG

#5 Justyn Mutts – PF

  • USA NCAA Division 1: High Point (2017-2018), Delaware (2019-2020), Viginia Tech (2020-2023)
  • 2022 NCAA ACC Championship
  • 2021-22 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Skip Prosser Award
  • 2021-22 Virginia Tech team captain
  • 2021 ACC All-Academic Team
  • Played 2023 NBA Summer League (Sacramento Kings)
  • EASL Stats: 9.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 3.0 spg, 50% FG

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get the latest

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong.

Tags

No items found.

More news

Clear

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Changwon LG Sakers Capture First KBL Championship in Seven-Game Thriller Over Seoul SK
Changwon LG Sakers Capture First KBL Championship in Seven-Game Thriller Over Seoul SK

17 May

No items found.
MBA ‘The League’ Finals Update: Xac Broncos Grab 2-1 Series Lead
MBA ‘The League’ Finals Update: Xac Broncos Grab 2-1 Series Lead

16 May

No items found.
EASL Confirms 12th Team for 2025–26 Season: Three B.LEAGUE Teams to Compete
EASL Confirms 12th Team for 2025–26 Season: Three B.LEAGUE Teams to Compete

13 May

No items found.
Seoul SK Knights Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season
Seoul SK Knights Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season

29 Apr

No items found.
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season

28 Apr

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

Taipei Fubon Braves Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season
Taipei Fubon Braves Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season

28 Apr

No items found.
Changwon LG Sakers Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season
Changwon LG Sakers Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season

28 Apr

No items found.
KBL SEMIFINALS UPDATE: SK Knights, LG Sakers Take 2-0 Series Lead
KBL SEMIFINALS UPDATE: SK Knights, LG Sakers Take 2-0 Series Lead

27 Apr

No items found.
EASL Announces 2024-25 All-EASL Team Presented By Spalding
EASL Announces 2024-25 All-EASL Team Presented By Spalding

3 Apr

New Taipei Kings

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

Hiroshima Dragonflies

Ryukyu Golden Kings Claim Japan’s Emperor’s Cup, Marks 2nd Straight Triumph for a B. LEAGUE EASL Team
Ryukyu Golden Kings Claim Japan’s Emperor’s Cup, Marks 2nd Straight Triumph for a B. LEAGUE EASL Team

16 Mar

Ryukyu Golden Kings

Hiroshima Takes EASL Final Four 2025 Title, Edges Taoyuan
Hiroshima Takes EASL Final Four 2025 Title, Edges Taoyuan

10 Mar

Hiroshima Dragonflies

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

New Taipei Kings Defeat Ryukyu to Claim Third Place in EASL 2024-25 Season
New Taipei Kings Defeat Ryukyu to Claim Third Place in EASL 2024-25 Season

9 Mar

New Taipei Kings

Ryukyu Golden Kings

GAME NOTES: EASL Championship Game — Hiroshima Dragonflies vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
GAME NOTES: EASL Championship Game — Hiroshima Dragonflies vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

9 Mar

Hiroshima Dragonflies

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

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

8 Mar

New Taipei Kings

Ryukyu Golden Kings

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Upset Ryukyu Golden Kings, Advance To EASL Championship Game
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Upset Ryukyu Golden Kings, Advance To EASL Championship Game

8 Mar

Taoyuan Pauian Pilots

Ryukyu Golden Kings

Hiroshima Dragonflies Advance to Championship Game After Defeating New Taipei Kings in Final Four Semis
Hiroshima Dragonflies Advance to Championship Game After Defeating New Taipei Kings in Final Four Semis

7 Mar

Hiroshima Dragonflies

New Taipei Kings

No Results Found

Please clear your search and try again.

The Latest Stats From the Game

View Stats

Get Social

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get the latest

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong.

Watch all the games Live & Free

Watch Now

Product Partners

Product Partners

Product Partners

Product Partners