GAME NOTES: GROUP A — Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (3-0) vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (2-1)

Taoyuan, Hiroshima set for Christmas clash to grab top spot in Group A

December 25, 2024 — Taoyuan Arena

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Where to Watch

The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Hiroshima Dragonflies tip off at 8:10 p.m. CST. Here’s where you can catch the game!

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Chinese Taipei

Watch the game live on Videoland (pay TV).

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Japan:

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

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If you’re outside these regions and want to watch the East Asia Super League (EASL) games on Dec. 25, 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://ticket.ibon.com.tw/ActivityInfo/Details/38579

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Storylines

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Graham Gone

Taoyuan will be missing star forward Treveon Graham (center) in Wednesday's game against Hiroshima. Graham has been a key factor in Taoyuan's undefeated season, averaging 28 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

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Taoyuan will face Hiroshima without its starting forward, Treveon Graham. A former NBA journeyman, Graham has been instrumental in the Pilots' 3-0 start this season, averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, earning two Player of the Game honors along the way.

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On Dec. 17, during a P. LEAGUE+ game against the Tainan TSG GhostHawks, Graham exited the game following an awkward fall in the fourth quarter. It was later confirmed as a plantar fasciitis injury, though his recovery timeline remains uncertain. Graham has also been the team's leading scorer in East Asia Super League (EASL) competition.

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Graham’s absence simplifies Hiroshima’s defensive strategy. The Dragonflies can now concentrate on the Pilots’ forward-guard duo of Alec Brown and Lu Chun-Hsiang, who collectively average 41 points per game. Without Graham, Taoyuan loses a dynamic slasher and a key transition player, potentially forcing adjustments to its offensive approach.

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Fight For First

The Hiroshima Dragonflies' undefeated streak ended with an 80-78 loss to the Suwon KT Sonicboom on December 4. However, the reigning B.LEAGUE champions can reclaim the top spot in Group A with a win against Taoyuan.

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Wednesday’s contest will decide sole possession of first place in Group A, with both teams having just two regular-season games remaining. A win for the Pauian Pilots would all but guarantee their spot in the Final Four, while a victory for Hiroshima — coupled with a Taoyuan loss — would result in both teams holding a 3-1 record, with the Dragonflies claiming first place due to their head-to-head win.

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Both teams have looked like Final Four contenders through their first two EASL games. Hiroshima dominated Hong Kong Eastern in back-to-back meetings, while Taoyuan defeated the Suwon KT Sonicboom and the San Miguel Beermen by a combined 37 points.

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However, Hiroshima’s path took a hit on Dec. 4 when the reigning B. LEAGUE champions suffered a surprising 80-78 loss to KT. The upset was even more surprising because Hiroshima chose not to play their leading scorer, Kerry Blackshear Jr. Despite the setback, KT’s loss to Taoyuan the following week created an opportunity for the Dragonflies to reclaim the top spot in Group A with a win on Dec. 25.

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For Hiroshima, a win would be crucial for their chances moving forward. For the Pauian Pilots, improving to 4-0 would be the perfect Christmas gift.

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Protecting Possession

The Hiroshima Dragonflies sit comfortably in second place in Group A midway through the 2024-25 season, but turnovers remain a major issue. They lead the league with an average of 17 turnovers per game — a weakness Taoyuan will look to exploit with their six steals per game.

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Hiroshima has impressed during the EASL season and currently sits second in Group A with a 2-1 record. However, sloppy play has been a recurring issue for the Dragonflies in their inaugural campaign. They average a league-worst 17 turnovers per game. For context, only two other teams in this year’s EASL — the Ryukyu Golden Kings and the Busan KCC Egis — have committed 17 turnovers in a single game.

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Surprisingly, it’s not because Hiroshima plays at a fast pace or tries to push the tempo too much. Instead, the team has been unusually careless with the ball. Hiroshima typically embodies a traditional Japanese basketball style, emphasizing careful possession, structured halfcourt sets, and disciplined execution. Adjusting to the diverse playstyles of EASL appears to have disrupted their rhythm early in the season.

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To make matters worse, Taoyuan excels at creating defensive pressure, averaging six steals per game. If Hiroshima wants to defeat Taoyuan and claim the top spot in Group A, they must eliminate the sloppy mistakes that have plagued them so far.

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Taoyuan Pauian Pilots’ Players To Watch:

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#30 Pai Yao-Cheng — Guard, 6-foot-0

2024-25 EASL Averages: 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 7.1 points, 4.2 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 — Center, 7-foot-0

2024-25 EASL Averages: 24.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists
2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.4 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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#69 Amdy Dieng — Center, 6-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Averages: 6.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 3.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists
Joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2022
Selected as the 4th overall pick in the 2022 P. LEAGUE+ Draft
2-time UBA Champion (2021, 2022)
Dieng attended the National Chengchi University
Dieng is from Senegal

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Hiroshima Dragonflies’ Players To Watch:

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#8 Kerry Blackshear Jr. — Forward, 6-foot-8

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 25.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 15.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Sixth-Man of the Year
Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022
Blackshear Jr. went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft
2020 Second-Team All-SEC with Florida
2019 Second-Team All-ACC with Virginia Tech
Blackshear Jr. attended Virginia Tech (2015-2019) and Florida (2019-2020)
Blackshear Jr. is from Orlando, Florida, USA

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

2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 16.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 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: 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists
2024-25 B.LEAGUE Season Averages: 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 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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Taoyuan By The Numbers:

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Team History