Storylines:

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Anosike vs. Graham 

SMB’s EJ Anosike and Taoyuan’s Treveon Graham are arguably the best players on their respective teams. In their East Asia Super League debuts, Anosike tallied 34 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Graham notched 32 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

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On Wednesday evening, the two will likely be assigned to guard each other.

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This matchup is intriguing because Anosike and Graham possess similar playstyles, both favoring finishes around the rim and showcasing a deep repertoire of post moves. Both players also tend to be ball-dominant, often most effective when they can hold possession for longer stretches. As a result, fans can expect a series of exciting 1-on-1 duels when the two go head-to-head.

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The winner of this matchup will likely determine the game’s outcome, as San Miguel aims to even its record at 1-1, while Taoyuan looks to join the B.LEAGUE’s Hiroshima Dragonflies atop the Group A standings at 2-0.

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Miller’s Redemption Game 

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Quincy Miller joined San Miguel in the offseason, bringing with him a notable pedigree. A former high school star out of North Carolina, Miller had stints in the NBA before spending most of his professional career abroad. His addition provides a versatile scoring threat to the Beermen’s roster.

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However, Miller didn’t live up to expectations in San Miguel’s EASL season opener on Oct. 2. The 6-foot-8 forward mustered just eight points on an uncharacteristic 16.7% shooting night as SMB lost 87-81 to the KBL’s Suwon KT Sonicboom. Miller’s chance for a bounce-back game comes Wednesday, in front of a home crowd at PhilSports Arena.

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Given San Miguel's offensive firepower, Miller doesn’t need to take over with an exceptional scoring night. The Beermen already have Anosike and superstar center June Mar Fajardo, who combined for 53 points against Suwon KT. All Miller needs to do is play his game, and that should be enough to secure SMB's first EASL win of the 2024-25 campaign.

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Battle On The Boards 

Winning the rebounding battle will be a decisive factor on Wednesday between San Miguel and Taoyuan. In SMB’s Oct. 2 loss, Suwon KT outrebounded the Beermen 43-35, totaling several second-chance points which ultimately led to victory. 

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Meanwhile, the Pauian Pilots leaned heavily on their edge on the boards to win on Oct. 23. Taoyuan secured 47 boards to Suwon KT’s 37, along with an impressive 17 on the offensive glass. Once again, it was a series of extra possessions — which led to wide-open 3’s or easy conversions around the basket — which led to a commanding 91-70 Taoyuan triumph. 

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Both teams in Wednesday’s affair bring formidable inside presences in San Miguel’s Fajardo and the Pauian Pilots’ Alec Brown. Fajardo, one of the most dominant big men in Filipino basketball history, recorded nine rebounds in his sole EASL appearance, matched by Brown, a former NBA second-round draft pick.

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In their upcoming Group A showdown on Wednesday, whichever team controls the boards will likely prevail. 

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San Miguel Beermen’s Players to Watch: 

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#24 EJ Anosike — Forward, 6-foot-7 

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 34 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists 
• Joined SMB in 2024 
• Represented Nigerian National Team in Afria’s 2024 FIBA Men's Pre-Qualifying Olympic Qualifying Tournament
• 2024 NBL (China) Scoring Leader with the Hefei Crazy Storm 
• Anosike spent time with the G-League’s Texas Legends and Salt Lake City Stars in 2023 
• Anosike played for fellow 2024-25 EASL team Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2022
• Anosike went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft 
• Anosike attended Sacred Heart (2017-19), Tennessee (2020-21) and Cal State Fullerton (2021-22)
• Anosike is from Paramus, New Jersey, USA

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#13 Marcio Lassiter — Guard, 6-foot-2

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
• Lassiter became the PBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made on Sep. 15. 
• 10-time PBA Champion 
• 8-time PBA All-Star 
• 2022 Asian Games Gold Medalist 
• 2018 PBA Mythical First Team 
• 2013 PBA All-Defensive Team 
• 2013 PBA Comeback Player of the Year 
• 2012 PBA All-Rookie Team 
• Lassiter joined SMB in 2012 
• Selected as the 4th overall pick in the 2011 PBA Draft 
• Lassiter attended City College of San Francisco (2005-07) and Cal State Fullerton (2007-09) 
• Lassiter is from San Francisco, California, USA 

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#77 Jaymar (CJ) Perez — Guard, 6-foot-2

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• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
• 2x PBA Champion (2022, 2023-24) 
• 2024 PBA Finals MVP 
• 2024 PBA Best Player of the Conference 
• 2x PBA All-Star (2023, 2024) 
• 3x PBA Mythical First Team (2019, 2023, 2024) 
• 2021 PBA Mythical Second Team 
• Perez joined SMB in 2021 
• 2019 PBA All-Defensive Team 
• 2019 PBA Rookie of the Year 
• 2019 PBA All-Rookie Team 
• Selected as the 1st overall pick in the 2019 PBA Draft
• 3x PBA Scoring Champion (2019, 2020, 2023)
• 2017 NCAA Philippines Most Valuable Player 
• 2017 NCAA Philippines Mythical Team 
• Perez attended San Sebastian and Lyceum
• Perez is from the Philippines. He was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 

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Taoyuan Pauain Pilots’ Players to Watch: 

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#30 Pai Yao-Cheng — Guard, 6-foot-0

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists 
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 11.5 points, 4 rebounds, 4.8 assists
• 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Rookie of the Year 
• Pai joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2022 
• Selected as the 3rd overall pick in the 2022 P. LEAGUE+ Draft
• Pai attended I-Shou University (2017-2021)
• Pai is from Chinese Taipei 

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#21 Alec Brown — 7-foot-0

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 29 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists 
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists 
• Joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2023 
• Played for the NBA developmental league affiliates, Bakersfield Jam (now known as Motor City Cruise) (2015-16) and Windy City Bulls (2016-17) 
• Brown was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 50th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft 
• 2014 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year
• 2-time First-Team All-Horizon League (2012, 2014) 
• Brown attended Green Bay College (2010-2014)
• Brown is from Winona, Minnesota, USA 

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#24 Treveon Graham — 6-foot-5 

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 32 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists
• Joined the Pauian Pilots in 2024 
• Graham spent time in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets (2016-18), Brooklyn Nets (2018-19), Minnesota Timberwolves (2019-20) and Atlanta Hawks (2020)  
• Graham went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft 
• 2-time First-Team All-Atlantic 10 (2014, 2015) 
• 2013 Second Team All-Atlantic 10 
• 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP 
• Graham attended Virginia Commonwealth University (2011-2015) 
• Graham is from Washington D.C., USA 

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SMB By The Numbers:

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Team History 

• Founded in 1975
• 29-time PBA Champions 
• 45 PBA Finals Appearances 
• 1-of-3 PBA teams owned by the San Miguel Corporation

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2024-25 EASL Results 

• 4th in Group A
• Group stage record: 0-1 
• Game 1: 87-81 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Oct. 2, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders 

• Points: EJ Anosike — 34 ppg
• Rebounds: June Mar Fajardo — 9 rpg
• Assists: EJ Anosike, Christopher Ross — 4 apg 
• Steals: EJ Anosike, Krismoir Rosales —  2 spg
• Blocks: Quincy Miller —  3 bpg 

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games 

• Home vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) – Nov. 13, 2024
• Away vs. Hong Kong Eastern (HK) – Dec. 18, 2024
• Away vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) – Jan. 8, 2025
• Home vs. Hong Kong Eastern (HK) – Jan. 15, 2025
• Away vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) – Feb. 12, 2025

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Taoyuan By The Numbers:

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Team History 

• Founded in 2020 
• The Pauian Pilots play in the Taoyuan Arena  

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2024-25 EASL Results 

• 2nd in Group A
• Group stage record: 1-0 
• Game 1: 91-70 win against Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Oct. 23, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders 

• Points: Treveon Graham — 32 ppg
• Rebounds: Treveon Graham, Pai Yao-Cheng — 11 rpg
• Assists: Treveon Graham, Lu Chun Hsiang — 5 apg 
• Steals: Kuan Ta-You — 2 spg
• Blocks: Alec Brown —  1 bpg 

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games 

• Away vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Nov. 13, 2024 
• Home vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Dec. 11, 2024 
• Home vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 25, 2024 
• Away vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 22, 2025 
• Home vs. Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) — Feb. 5, 2025 

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2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Record 

• 1st in P. LEAGUE+ Standings 
• Record: 3-1
• Latest Game: 117-114 loss against the Taipei Fubon Braves — Nov. 9

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2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Statistic Leaders

• Points: Julian Boyd — 20.3 ppg
• Rebounds: Alec Brown — 9.8 rpg
• Assists: Treveon Graham — 5.5 apg 
• Steals: Li Chia Kang —  2.5 spg
• Blocks: Alec Brown —  2.8 bpg 

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