Where: Arena Tachikawa Tachihi 

When: Wednesday, December 17, 7 P.M. 

Team Records: Alvark Tokyo (1-1) / Changwon LG Sakers (1-3)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information 

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PROJECTED STARTERS 

Alvark Tokyo 

PG: Sota Okura — 185cm / 83kg

SG: Marcus Foster — 191cm / 93 kg

SF: Taiki Osakabe — 187cm / 88kg

PF: Ryan Rossiter — 206cm / 105kg

C: Sebastian Saiz — 205cm / 106kg

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Changwon LG Sakers 

PG: Yu Ki Sang — 188cm / 86kg

SG: Yang Jun Seok — 180cm / 75kg

SF: Carl Tamayo — 202cm / 98kg 

PF: Assem Marei — 204cm / 113kg

C: Michael Eric — 211cm / 114kg

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‍TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Alvark Tokyo

Points: Sebastian Saiz — 25.0 

Rebounds: Ryan Rossiter — 11.0

Assists: Ryan Rossiter, Kai Toews — 6.0 

Steals: Taiki Osakabe — 1.5 

Blocks: Sebastian Saiz — 1.0

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Changwon LG Sakers

Points: Yang Hongseok — 21.0 

Rebounds: Assem Marei — 13.3 (4th in EASL)

Assists: Yang Junseok — 8.0 (1st in EASL)

Steals: Assem Marei — 3.0 (3rd in EASL)

Blocks: Michael Eric — 1.8 (4th in EASL)

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THE RUNDOWN 

Alvark Tokyo host the Changwon LG Sakers at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi on Wednesday, December 17, with the Group C rivals meeting for the first time this season. Tokyo sits mid-table at 1-1, while LG enters at 1-3.

Like the other participating B LEAGUE clubs, Alvark has not played in EASL since October 22, when it cruised past the New Taipei Kings on the road, 107-89. LG, meanwhile, has navigated a packed EASL slate and will be playing its fifth game of the season. The Sakers are also coming off their first win, a statement 98 83 victory over the then Group C leaders, the Xac Broncos.

For Tokyo, the result does not drastically shift its postseason outlook with several games still to play, but for LG, the stakes are clear. A loss would drop the Sakers to 1-4 and mathematically eliminate them from postseason contention.

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ALVARK 

Alvark Tokyo is searching for its second EASL win in its third game of the season. After opening the 2025–26 campaign shorthanded and falling 84 to 69 to the Xac Broncos, Alvark responded with a win over New Taipei and now looks to put together back-to-back victories.

In the B.LEAGUE, Tokyo currently sits fifth in the Eastern Division at 13 and 10. Import center Sebastian Saiz leads the team at 25 points per game, while naturalized forward Ryan Rossiter paces the rebounding effort at 11 rebounds per game. EASL fans may also have their eyes on star point guard Kai Toews on Wednesday, but the 27-year-old has not played since November 2 due to injury.

One of the headline storylines is the expected EASL debut of new import Frank Kaminsky, the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The 7-footer previously played for the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets, among other NBA stops, and was a decorated college standout who won the 2015 Naismith Player of the Year award.

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THE LG SAKERS

The LG Sakers must be riding high after earning their first EASL win with an emphatic victory over the Xac Broncos. Import center Assem Marei led the way, recording just the third triple-double in EASL history and becoming the first KBL player to achieve the feat with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Marei also added six steals.

Still, any celebration has to be brief. LG faces another must-win on the road against Alvark Tokyo. If the Sakers lose, they will be eliminated from EASL postseason contention.

A major factor in the breakthrough win was the return of Yang Hongseok. The 28-year-old local forward made his EASL debut after completing mandatory military service and delivered immediately, scoring 21 points while impacting the game on both ends. With Yang in the fold, LG looked more connected and more complete than at any point this season. And with the league’s assists leader in Yang Junseok, plus the inside presence of Marei and Michael Eric, the Sakers suddenly look like a team capable of building momentum and finishing the season with a run.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

LG ON THE ROPES

It is a situation LG has been in before, and it found a way through.

Before facing the Xac Broncos, the Sakers needed a win to stave off elimination. They responded with a 98-point outburst after failing to crack 90 in their first three games. Now, the pressure is back on. Beat Alvark Tokyo or risk becoming one of the first teams eliminated from postseason contention.

Injuries, lineup shuffles, and new arrivals have defined much of LG’s first four outings, making for a challenging start to its inaugural EASL season. But at their best, the current KBL leaders have shown they can compete with top-level opposition. Can the Sakers survive one more time?