MACAU CLASSIC GAME NOTES: GROUP B — Macau Black Bears (2-2) vs. New Taipei Kings (0-1)

Kings look to avenge Black Bears loss in rematch in the Macau Classic

December 9, 2024 — Studio City Event Centre, Macau SAR

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Storylines:

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Rematch in Macau

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The New Taipei Kings were upset on their home court by the Macau Black Bears on October 23, in a game where Macau’s shots fell left, right, and center.

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The Black Bears shot an impressive 57%, with Jeantal Cylla leading the way with a game-high 32 points on 67% shooting. Seven of the eight active Black Bears players hit the scoresheet against the reigning P. LEAGUE+ champions, culminating in a 109-97 victory.

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New Taipei cannot afford to lose another game to the Black Bears, as a sweep of the Group Stage series would give Macau the tiebreaker between the two teams.

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Black Bears lose stars

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The Macau Black Bears will play without two key players on Wednesday: leading scorer Jeantal Cylla and leading rebounder Will Artino, who both left the team in November.

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Cylla, a 28-year-old forward from the University of Arkansas, averaged 26.3 points in Macau’s first four games of this season’s EASL campaign. He was also named EASL Player of the Game when the Black Bears last faced the New Taipei Kings, scoring a game-high 32 points.

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Artino, a 32-year-old big man from Creighton University, averaged 14.3 rebounds and 18 points per game over four EASL contests. The naturalized Chinese Taipei forward was a crucial presence on the glass.

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With the departure of these two key contributors, much of the responsibility now falls on Damian Chong Qui, EASL’s November Player of the Month.

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Macau’s new additions

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Filling the void left by Cylla and Artino are Adonis Thomas and Johnny Wang.

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Thomas, a 6-foot-6 forward, is a former McDonald’s All-American and NBA D-League All-Star. He played college basketball at the University of Memphis, where current Macau Black Bears head coach Garrett Kelly previously worked. Thomas has NBA experience, having played for the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2013-14 season.

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Wang, a 6-foot-7 forward from Beijing, China, attended California State University, Fullerton, and was the first overall pick in the 2021 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Draft by the Fujian Sturgeons.

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The two new additions bring size to the Macau Black Bears roster, but whether they can replicate Cylla and Artino’s scoring and rebounding numbers remains to be seen.

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