January 28, 2026

Seoul SK Become 1st Team to Clinch Spot in EASL Finals

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Seoul SK Become 1st Team to Clinch Spot in EASL Finals

Written By

Tyler Schiff

Seoul SK Become 1st Team to Clinch Spot in EASL Finals

Warney Drops 24 to Send Seoul Back to the EASL Postseason

What Happened 

The Seoul SK Knights defeated the Taipei Fubon Braves 89-78 on Wednesday night to become the first team to clinch a spot in the EASL Finals 2026. The win also completed a season sweep of the Braves.

Seoul SK set the tone early and controlled the first half. They built a lead that grew to as many as 17 points and took a commanding 57-40 advantage late in the second quarter, putting Taipei Fubon on the back foot heading into halftime.

The Braves answered with a strong response in the third quarter, putting together a 24-6 run and outscoring SK 20-10 in the period to close the gap and bring the game back within reach, but Seoul SK regrouped in the fourth quarter to seal the win, outscoring Fubon 22-12.

Archie Goodwin led all scorers with 35 points for Taipei Fubon, while Jameel Warney finished with 24 points for SK. Arvin Tolentino added 16 points on 3-made 3-pointers, and Kim Nakhyeon and Edi Daniel contributed 11 points each. 

What It Means 

This result makes Seoul SK the first team to book a spot in the EASL Finals 2026. With the win, SK remain on top of Group A at 4-2.

For Taipei Fubon, the loss drops them to 2-3 and down to third in the group. It also opens the door for the Utsunomiya Brex to leapfrog them into second.

The Braves are not out of contention, though. Their path is now simple: win or go home on EASL’s final game day to reach the Finals. If Taipei Fubon defeats the Utsunomiya Brex on February 11, they will secure a spot in the EASL Finals 2026.

Player of the Game: Jameel Warney

EASL Player of the Game honors went to Jameel Warney after another clutch performance for Seoul SK. Warney finished with a team-high 24 points while playing all 40 minutes, shooting 43.5 percent from the field, grabbing 15 rebounds, and knocking down two 3-pointers.

With SK reeling after being outscored in the third quarter, Warney took control in the fourth. He was the steady force that pulled Seoul out of its slump and put it back in front for good, delivering timely baskets on both the inside and the perimeter when it mattered most.

Super Statistic: 12  

Doubling down on Jameel Warney’s impact, he matched Taipei Fubon’s entire fourth quarter output by himself.

The Braves scored 12 points in the final period, and Warney scored 12 of his own. Both of his 3-pointers came in the fourth quarter, and they were timely shots that swung momentum back to Seoul SK and helped put the game away.

Next Up 

Seoul SK’s regular season is now complete, and they finish 4-2 at the top of Group A. With their spot already secured, SK can now turn their focus to the EASL Finals 2026 as the league’s first team to qualify.

For the Taipei Fubon Braves, the road is still open, but it is down to one last step. After a two-week break, they will travel to Utsunomiya for a second meeting with the Utsunomiya Brex in a win-or-go-home showdown.

The teams first met at EASL Tip-Off Taipei on October 8, when Fubon earned a 109-107 overtime win. If the Braves win again, they will punch their ticket to the EASL Finals 2026 as the second and final team out of Group A.

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