What Happened 

The New Taipei Kings grabbed their first win of the 2025–26 season, beating the KBL’s Changwon LG Sakers 90–78 on the road. Sani Sakakini set the tone, finishing with a game-high 33 points, the second-highest scoring output of the season so far, as New Taipei moved to 1–1 in Group C.

The Kings came out flying, winning the first quarter 31–17 and hitting five 3-pointers. LG settled down and pulled it back to 43–43 at halftime, led by guard Yang Jun Seok, but New Taipei inched back ahead in the third and then tightened up on defense in the fourth, holding LG to a game-low 13 points in the final frame.

LG star Carl Tamayo never really got into a rhythm, though the Sakers still managed four players in double figures. For New Taipei, Jayden Gardner put up 28 for his second straight 20-plus EASL game, and both Lee Kai Yan and Austin Daye also finished in double-digit scoring. 

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What It Means

New Taipei avoided becoming the first team to start 0–2 in the 2025–26 EASL season and now sit third in Group C.

Today’s game also made Group C the only group with all four teams having played. For LG, the loss drops them to 0–1 and last in the group.

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EASL Player of the Game: Sani Sakakini 

Sani Sakakini was electric on Thursday night, scoring 33 points on 62.5 percent shooting, knocking down six 3s, grabbing nine rebounds and turning it over just once. His six made 3s are the second-most in EASL this season, only behind Utsunomiya Brex guard D.J. Newbill’s seven. 

After the game, Sakakini said New Taipei “didn’t play our game” in the loss to Alvark Tokyo on Oct. 22. He pointed out that the Kings also lost their opener in 2024–25 before going on to finish third. 

He added that not reaching the championship game last season still bothers him and that the team’s one goal this year is to “get to the Final 6.” Led by Sakakini, New Taipei certainly took a step in the right direction tonight. 

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Super Statistic: 31

New Taipei’s 31 first-quarter points tied the mark for the most points in a period this season, matching B.LEAGUE sides Utsunomiya Brex and Alvark Tokyo, who both hit 31 on Oct. 22, with Alvark doing it against New Taipei.

Against the LG Sakers, the Kings put up 18 points in the first five minutes alone, powered by 12 from Sakakini and eight from Gardner. They ended the quarter up 14, which gave them enough of a cushion to control the rest of the game.

That hot start from deep carried over, too. New Taipei hit five 3s in the first quarter and finished with 13 total, shooting 46.4 percent on 28 attempts.

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Up Next: 

New Taipei has a quick turnaround and will fly to Ulaanbaatar on Friday for a Saturday matchup against Group C leaders the Xac Broncos at M Bank Arena. Tip-off is set for 5:10 p.m. CST, Nov. 1

The Sakers also head to the Mongolian capital next, facing the Broncos on the road on Wednesday, Nov. 5.