Where: Xinzhuang Gymnasium 

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. CST 

Team Records: New Taipei Kings (0-0) / Alvark Tokyo (0-1)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information  

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PROJECTED STARTERS 

New Taipei Kings 

PG: Joseph Lin — 182cm / 69kg

SG: Lee Kai Yan — 182cm / 80kg
SF: Chaundee Brown — 196cm / 98kg
PF: Austin Daye — 207cm / 91kg
C: Sani Sakakini  — 204cm / 102kg

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Alvark Tokyo 

PG: Kai Toews — 188cm / 85kg

SG: Shuto Ando  — 190cm / 88kg 

SF: Taiki Osakabe — 187cm / 88kg
PF: Ryan Rossiter— 206cm / 105kg
C: Sebastian Saiz — 205cm / 106kg 

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TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

New Taipei Kings 

The New Taipei Kings have yet to play an EASL game. The Kings make their EASL debut on Oct.  22 against Alvark Tokyo.

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Alvark Tokyo 

Points: Marcus Foster — 20.0 

Rebounds: Stephen Zack — 9.0
Assists: Zach Baranski — 4.0 

Steals: Baranski, Foster — 2.0 

Blocks: Zack, Taiki Osakabe — 1.0 

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THE RUNDOWN:  

It is the team with the most EASL games played against a team taking its first EASL road test. The New Taipei Kings are the only club to reach back-to-back EASL postseasons and finished third in 2024–25. Alvark enter at 0–1 after dropping their EASL debut contest to Mongolia’s Xac Broncos at KEIO ARENA TOKYO. 

New Taipei look different from their last two EASL runs without the now-retired Jeremy Lin. But the defending 2-time Chinese Taipei champions have a chance to start a third straight season with a Group C win, while Tokyo are likely to field their strongest lineup to avoid a 0–2 start.

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THE KINGS: 

New Taipei had as busy an offseason as any team in this year’s EASL field. Most notably, the Kings said goodbye to two-time All-EASL selection Jeremy Lin, who retired in late August. They also parted ways with head coach Ryan Marchand, who spent four years with the club and has been there since its 2021 launch as a P. LEAGUE+ expansion team. Taking over is a coach with EASL pedigree: former Chiba Jets head coach John Patrick, who won the league in its inaugural 2023–24 season.

A new era begins for the Kings, with Joseph Lin stepping to the forefront as the starting point guard. Alongside him, New Taipei return reigning domestic Import of the Year Jason Washburn and last season’s All-EASL selection Sani Sakakini. Another key returnee is former NBA champion Austin Daye, who has announced he will retire at the end of this season.

In terms of new faces, the Kings signed imports Chaundee Brown, a former NBA player, and Jayden Gardner. They also added Lin Yan Ting, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 CBA Draft who returned to Chinese Taipei in the offseason.

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ALVARK:  

Alvark Tokyo were not at full strength in their EASL debut, which contributed to an opening-day 84–69 loss to the Xac Broncos.

Back in the B.LEAGUE this past weekend, Alvark welcomed back two key pieces: Ryan Rossiter, a Second Team All-B.LEAGUE selection last season, and starting point guard and national team guard Kai Toews. Both impressed in their B.LEAGUE season debuts, an 81–68 win over the Ibaraki Robots.

Not much went right at home against the Broncos at EASL Tip Off, but Alvark now look primed for a bounce-back. An X-factor to watch is import forward Sebastián Sáiz, who did not feature in Alvark’s first EASL game despite being healthy, yet has been outstanding in B.LEAGUE play, averaging nearly a double-double through the first six games.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE: 

NTK’S COACH & ALVARK CONNECTION 

New Taipei’s new head coach, John Patrick, faced Alvark regularly as head coach of the Chiba Jets in the B.LEAGUE from 2022 to 2024.  

He helped coach Chiba to the 2023-24 EASL championship and the season before he captured the B.LEAGUE title. In that domestic championship season, his Chiba team went 5–1 against Alvark, including a semifinal sweep that knocked them out of the B.LEAGUE playoffs en route to the championship.

Adding to the connection, Patrick coached Alvark in 2005–06, guiding them to the JBL Super League title, the predecessor to today’s B.LEAGUE.