GAME NOTES: GROUP A — Hiroshima Dragonflies (3-1) vs. San Miguel Beermen (0-3)

San Miguel needs win to stave off postseason elimination

January 8, 2025 — Hiroshima Sun Plaza

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Where to Watch

The Hiroshima Dragonflies and San Miguel Beermen tip off at 6:10 p.m. CST. Here’s where you can catch the game!

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Japan:

Watch the game live on U-NEXT (Japanese Streaming Platform)

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Philippines:

Watch the game live or on replay on CIGNAL’s One Sports (free TV), One Sports+ (pay TV), or stream it on Pilipinas Live.

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If you’re outside these regions and want to watch the East Asia Super League (EASL) games on Jan. 8, visit the ‘Watch’ tab on our website to see where you can stream based on your location.

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Get Your Tickets

Get your tickets now at: https://bleague-ticket.psrv.jp/sales/HD/20250108

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‍Note: Those interested must create a B.LEAGUE website membership to purchase tickets.

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If you are traveling from overseas or do not have a B.LEAGUE website membership and wish to purchase tickets, please complete the form below:

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https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsQn0yERSJzzUQDuPel1BoVqSr-iv9LN78VjDtHV9AHLK9hA/viewform

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Storylines

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This Is It

Hiroshima's Kerry Blackshear Jr. (#8) attempts a drive against two Taoyuan defenders in their bout on Christmas Day. After Hong Kong Eastern defeated the Suwon KT Sonicbom in Group A play on Jan. 7, a win for Hiroshima against San Miguel will confirm a Final Four berth for the Dragonflies.

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Heading into the New Year, Hiroshima had a chance to secure a Final Four spot with a game to spare, potentially becoming just the second team this season to do so. However, their fate wasn’t entirely in their hands. The Dragonflies will need a win on Jan. 8 but will first require Hong Kong Eastern to beat Suwon KT the day before.

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Against the odds, Hong Kong, an expansion team this season, pulled off a surprise 69-61 victory over Suwon KT on Jan. 7, setting the stage for Hiroshima's shot at clinching a Final Four berth. A win over San Miguel on Gameday 11 at Hiroshima Sun Plaza would confirm them as the second team to advance.

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It’s been a mixed journey for Hiroshima. The Dragonflies opened the season strong with two dominant wins over Eastern but stumbled in their third game, falling to Suwon KT. They bounced back impressively with a Christmas Day victory over former Group A leaders, the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots. Now, their postseason hopes rest on this game.

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Avoiding Elimination

San Miguel enters a must-win game against Hiroshima on January 8. With an 0-3 record, the Beermen must secure a victory to keep their postseason hopes alive; a loss would mathematically eliminate them from contention.

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San Miguel's road to the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four is hanging by a thread. At 0-3 and sitting at the bottom of Group A, a fourth straight loss would mathematically eliminate the Beermen from postseason contention.

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In their inaugural EASL season, San Miguel has faced significant struggles. After an 87-81 loss to South Korea’s Suwon KT Sonicboom to open the 2024-25 campaign, things quickly spiraled. A blowout 100-85 defeat to the P. LEAGUE+’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots followed, and an opportunity for its first win against winless Hong Kong Eastern slipped away in a nine-point loss.

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Now, San Miguel finds itself in a must-win situation against a strong Hiroshima team. The Dragonflies sit atop Group A with a 3-1 record and are coming off of a victory over the previously undefeated Pauian Pilots. On paper, the Beermen’s chances are slim, and there is no more room for error. A loss would end their season, leaving them with two meaningless games and no chance to advance.

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Dominant Dwayne

Dwayne Evans II (#13) soars to the rim against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots during their Christmas Day matchup. Evans led the game with a dominant 33-point performance, securing an 84-73 victory that returned Hiroshima to the top of the Group A standings.

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Hiroshima’s standout player this season has been import Kerry Blackshear Jr. The former Florida and Virginia Tech star earned EASL’s October Player of the Month honors, averaging 21 points and 10.5 rebounds in consecutive wins that propelled the Dragonflies to a 2-0 start.

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Lately, however, it’s been Dwayne Evans II taking center stage as Hiroshima’s go-to player. The 6-foot-6 forward delivered a dominant 33-point performance on Christmas Day, leading the Dragonflies to a crucial victory over the previously unbeaten Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and securing the top spot in Group A.

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Evans didn’t feature at the start of the 2024-25 season due to a lingering left hamstring injury, missing Hiroshima’s first two games. Even in his EASL debut, he made an immediate impact with 19 points in a narrow 80-78 loss to the Suwon KT Sonicboom. Against Taoyuan, though, Evans fully showcased his offensive versatility, proving himself as a dynamic three-level scorer.

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Come Jan. 8, with Evans hitting his stride in EASL play, he’s poised for another big performance against San Miguel as Hiroshima continues its quest for a Final Four berth.

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Hiroshima Dragonflies’ Players To Watch

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#13 Dwayne Evans II — Forward, 6-foot-6

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 26.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 15.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022
Evans played for the Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) from 2020-2022
Evans attended St. Louis (2010-2014)
2-time First-Team All-Atlantic 10 (2013, 2014)
2013 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP
2011 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team
Evans is from Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA

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#12 Takuto Nakamura — Guard, 6-foot-1

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
Nakamura represented the Japanese national team during the Nov. 2024 FIBA International Window
Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022
Nakamura attended Daito Bunka University
Nakamura is from Nagoya, Japan

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#10 Toshiki Kamisawa — Guard, 5-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 7.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 7.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
Kamisawa joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022
Kamisawa attended Nihon University
Kamisawa is from Toyama, Japan

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San Miguel Beermen’s Players To Watch

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#31 Jabari Narcis — Forward, 6-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: Narcis is scheduled to make his EASL debut against the Hiroshima Dragonflies on Jan. 8.
Narcis joined the San Miguel Beermen in 2024
Narcis has played professionally in the Dominican Republic, Spain, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico and Venezuela
After going undrafted, Narcis played for the G-League’s Mexico City Capitanes
Narcis went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft
Narcis attended Jacksonville College (2016-2018) and UT Arlington (2018-2020)
Narcis is from Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago

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#5 Torren Jones — Forward, 6-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Jones joined the San Miguel Beermen in 2024
Jones has played professionally in Australia, the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Mexico and Taiwan
After going undrafted Jones played for the Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State Warriors G-League affiliate)
Jones went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft
Jones attended Missouri (2013-14), Midland Community College (2014-15), Fresno State (2015-16) and William Penn University (2016-17)
Jones was a former Top-100 Player in the 2014 High School Class
Jones is from Chandler, Arizona, USA

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#77 CJ Perez — Guard, 6-foot-2