Where: Brex Arena Utsunomiya 

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. JST 

Team Records: Utsunomiya Brex (0-1) / Seoul SK Knights (0-0)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information  

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PROJECTED STARTERS 

Utsunomiya Brex: 

PG: D.J. Newbill — 193cm / 96kg

SG: Shinji Takashima — 191cm / 90kg

SF: Makoto Hiejima — 191cm / 87kg 

PF: Isaac Fotu — 203cm / 108kg

C: Gavin Edwards — 206cm / 112kg

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Seoul SK Knights: 

PG: Kim Nak Hyeon — 184cm / 88kg 

SG: Oh Jae Hyun — 186cm / 85kg
SF: An Young Jun — 195cm / 95kg 

PF: Choi Bu Kyung — 200cm / 105kg
C: Jameel Warney — 199cm / 112kg

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TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Utsunomiya Brex:  

Points: D.J. Newbill — 32.0 

Rebounds: Isaac Fotu — 12.0
Assists: D.J. Newbill — 10.0 

Steals: Makoto Hiejima — 3.0 

Blocks: Makoto Hiejima — 1.0 

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Seoul SK Knights

Seoul SK have yet to play an EASL game. The Knights make their EASL debut on Oct.  22 against the Utsunomiya Brex.

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THE RUNDOWN:  

On Oct. 22, these two historic EASL teams meet for the first time in the league’s home-and-away season format. Back in 2023, Seoul SK and Utsunomiya both took part in EASL’s second Terrific 12 tournament, where SK finished as runner-up, but the two never faced each other.

Since then, the Brex had not appeared in EASL until this season, opening with a loss to the Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) at Tip Off on Oct. 8. For SK, this game marks a return to EASL for the first time since the inaugural 2023–24 season, when the Knights reached the championship game before falling to the B.LEAGUE’s Chiba Jets.

SK will aim for a strong start in its EASL return, while Utsunomiya need to avoid another setback before Group A becomes a difficult climb.

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THE BREX: 

Utsunomiya’s Tip Off loss could have gone either way. It took an immense effort from the Taipei Fubon Braves, including 43 points from Archie Goodwin in his EASL debut, to topple the reigning B.LEAGUE champions in overtime.

Since then, the Brex have looked strong in domestic play, stacking B.LEAGUE wins with the same rotation. They are currently second in the Eastern Division, with two-time reigning MVP D.J. Newbill putting up elite numbers, nearly averaging a points–assists double-double.

The Brex match up well with Seoul SK and will play at home for the first time this EASL season, a boost that should help them climb back to 1–1.

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THE KNIGHTS:  

Seoul SK return to EASL against one of the league’s toughest opponents, the Utsunomiya Brex. The Knights were busy in the offseason, highlighted by one of the KBL’s biggest trades of the summer.

The club bid farewell to long-time starting point guard Kim Sun Hyung. “The Flash” spent his entire 14-year career with Seoul SK and featured in EASL during the 2023–24 season. His replacement is rising guard Kim Nak Hyeon, acquired from the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus. Another notable addition is Asian import Arvin Tolentino from the Philippines, a proven shooter from range.

Seoul SK also bring back their MVP duo of local forward An Young-jun and import center Jameel Warney. Despite offseason retirement chatter, Warney returns for at least another EASL campaign. The early going has been challenging, however, as SK sit near the bottom of the KBL standings and will be without An for their EASL debut due to injury.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE: 

WARNEY WONDER 

Warney is arguably the best import EASL has seen, dominating the 2023–24 campaign with an All-EASL Team nod while averaging a staggering 36.5 points across six games and driving Seoul SK to a runners-up finish. He still holds the home-and-away era single-game scoring record with 45 points.