Where: Arena Tachikawa Tachihi 

When: Wednesday, February 4, 7 P.M. / 7:10 P.M. (On-air / Tip-off) JST

Team Records: Alvark Tokyo (3-1) / New Taipei Kings (3-2) 

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information  

‍

‍

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

‍

New Taipei Kings

PG: Joseph Lin — 182cm / 69kg

SG: Chien You Che — 180cm / 80kg 

SF: Chung Li Hsiang — 193cm / 90kg

PF: Femi Olujobi — 206cm / 112kg

C: Jason Washburn — 213cm / 111kg

‍

‍

‍

‍TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Alvark Tokyo

Points: Sebastian Saiz — 26.3 (5th in EASL)

Rebounds: Ryan Rossiter — 12.0 

Assists: Ryan Rossiter — 7.0 (2nd in EASL)

Steals: Zack Baranski — 1.3 

Blocks: Sebastian Saiz — 0.7 

‍

‍

New Taipei Kings

Points: Jalen Harris — 35.0 (1st in EASL)

Rebounds: Jason Washburn — 10.0 

Assists: Joseph Lin — 3.5

Steals: Lee Kai Yan — 2.0 (T2nd in EASL) 

Blocks: Jason Washburn — 3.0 (1st in EASL) 

‍

‍

‍

THE RUNDOWN

Alvark Tokyo and the New Taipei Kings meet for the second time this season, and this time the stakes could not be higher, with the winner clinching a direct ticket to the EASL Finals as the first team out of Group C, joining the KBL’s Seoul SK Knights from Group A.

This is the second meeting between the two sides after Alvark dominated the opener in New Taipei, rolling to a 107-89 win at Xinzhuang Gymnasium on October 22, when Tokyo’s frontcourt set the tone in both teams’ EASL debuts behind Sebastian Saiz and Ryan Rossiter. Saiz was unstoppable with 25 points and nine rebounds as Alvark controlled the game from start to finish.

This time, New Taipei arrives as a retooled, more talented group after a wave of new import signings, and all eyes will be on whether that added firepower can rise to the moment against an Alvark side that has looked sharp in both EASL play and domestic competition, because with a Finals berth on the line, this one is going to be good.


‍

‍

ALVARK

Alvark Tokyo has looked every bit like a team peaking at the right time. They enter this matchup riding a five-game winning streak, most recently completing a weekend sweep over the Toyama Grouses, and now sit fourth in the B.LEAGUE’s East Division.

That same momentum has carried over into EASL play. After dropping their season opener on October 8, Alvark have not lost since, rattling off three straight wins to establish themselves as one of Group C’s most consistent teams, with their frontcourt setting the tone on both ends.

Sebastian Saiz, a B.LEAGUE All-Star this season, leads Alvark in scoring at 26.3 points per game, the fifth-highest mark in EASL. Alongside him is Ryan Rossiter, who leads the team in assists at seven per game, second-best in the league. Add in the shot-making of Marcus Foster, who is finding his rhythm at the perfect time after an EASL career-high 27-point performance on January 17 against reigning KBL champions the LG Sakers.

Already crowned Emperor’s Cup champions earlier this season, Alvark are playing with confidence and balance, and with a Finals berth on the line, there is no better opportunity to prove it than on their home floor on Wednesday night, February 4.

‍

‍

THE KINGS

For the New Taipei Kings, the stakes in Tokyo could not be higher. A win on the road sends the Kings directly to the EASL Finals and makes them the only team in league history to reach three straight postseasons, in a win-and-you’re-in showdown against one of Asia’s most in-form teams.

New Taipei enters at 3–2 in EASL play on a two-game winning streak, but the challenge is clear. Their first meeting with Alvark ended in a lopsided loss, and the Kings will be without Sami Sakkakini, their leading scorer in that game, after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in their most recent outing.

Still, this roster looks different now, starting with the imports. Jalen Harris, acquired ahead of New Taipei’s December 6 matchup against the Xac Broncos, exploded for 35 points in a 109–104 win, while Jason Washburn posted 30 points and 10 rebounds in his first EASL appearance this season. Since then, the Kings have added more firepower with Femi Olujobi, who arrived from the B.LEAGUE, and Jordan Tolbert from the MBA’s The League.

The storyline is simple. The talent is there, even if the chemistry is still coming together. With a Finals berth on the line, all it takes is one complete performance.

‍

‍

SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE
Win and You’re In. The EASL Finals Await the Second Qualified Team 
Put simply, this is a true win-and-you’re-in game for both teams. If either Alvark Tokyo or the New Taipei Kings wins on February 4, they will clinch a place in the EASL Finals.

‍

‍

Why Alvark are in with a win

If Alvark beat New Taipei, they would improve to 4-1 and clinch qualification.

Even if they were to lose their final game against the Xac Broncos on February 11 and finish 4-2, Alvark would still advance. An Alvark loss to the Broncos would move Xac to 4-2. In that scenario, Xac would finish as the No. 1 seed and Alvark would go through as the No. 2 seed at worst.

‍

‍

Why New Taipei are in with a win

If New Taipei beat Alvark, the Kings would move to 4-2 and immediately secure qualification. Alvark would fall to 3-2, matching the Xac Broncos ahead of their final matchup on February 11, which would then decide the second qualifying team.

If Alvark beat the Broncos, Xac would finish 3-3 and be eliminated, allowing Alvark and New Taipei to advance at 4-2. If the Broncos beat Alvark, Alvark would finish 3-3 and be eliminated, with New Taipei advancing alongside Xac.