Game Notes: Group A – Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2-0) vs. Chiba Jets (3-0)

December 13, 2023 – Anyang Gymnasium, Anyang, South Korea

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Storylines:‍

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1. Unstoppable force meets immovable object

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There is little doubt that this is an encounter between two of Asia’s best teams.

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Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters are essentially the reigning EASL champions, having won Champions Week back in March. They are also the current champions of the Korean Basketball League.

Chiba Jets topped the B.LEAGUE regular season in 2022-23 and were hotly tipped to win the championship before they fell to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the Finals.

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Chiba lead Group A with a 3-0 record. The Red Boosters are right behind them on 2-0.

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The Jets haven’t played an EASL game since November 1, when they defeated TNT Tropang Giga by nine. They are giving up just 74.3 points a game in EASL. But their defense will be tested against a high-flying Jung Kwan Jang, who are putting up a league-leading 101.5 points a game.

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It is hard to pick a winner in this clash between high-octane offense and stout defense.

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2. Spellman leaves Anyang

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EASL Champions Week MVP Omari Spellman has left Jung Kwan Jang on Tuesday.

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Spellman was injured in the preseason with a knee problem. The former NBA pro, who averaged 31.3 points in three games during Champions Week, scored just seven points in his EASL 2023-24 Season debut, in over 18 minutes of play.

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Darryl Monroe has stepped up as the team's lone import. Against TNT, Monroe recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, just an assist shy of a triple-double.

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Jung Kwan Jang are averaging a league-leading 101.5 points a game this season. Can the team continue to thrive without their star big man?

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3. Jets seek consistency‍

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While the Jets are on a perfect 3-0 in EASL, they are struggling to find consistency in the B.LEAGUE.

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Since their last EASL victory against TNT on November 1, they have failed to string together three straight wins domestically and currently sit ninth in the B.LEAGUE standings with an 11-8 record.

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Japan national team captain Yuki Togashi has cooled off after a hot start to the season, averaging 15.8 points in his last eight games. The Jets star was averaging 21.8 points in his first 10 games of the season across the B.LEAGUE and EASL.

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Let’s see if the Jets can rediscover that early-season form in Korea.

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‍By the Numbers

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‍Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (South Korea – KBL)

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- Team History:

• Founded: 1992
• EASL Champions Week Champions (2023)
• 4x KBL Champions (2011-12, 2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23)

- 2023 KBL Champions

• Regular Season: 37-17 record, 1st in KBL
• Playoffs: defeated Goyang Day One Jumpers 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Seoul SK Knights 4-3 in Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 2-0

• October 25, 2023: 98-77 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)
• December 6, 2023: 105-97 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:  

• Points: Darryl Monroe – 19.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Darryl Monroe – 9.5 rpg
• Assists: Darryl Monroe – 9.5 apg
• Steals: 8 Players – 1.0 spg
• Blocks: 4 Players – 1.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• Home vs. Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE) – December 13, 2023
• Away vs. Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE) – January 10, 2024
• Away vs. TNT Tropang Giga (PBA) – January 24, 2024
• Away vs. Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) – February 7, 2024

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Braves went 3-0, defeating P. LEAGUE+ side Taipei Fubon Braves 94-69 and PBA side San Miguel Beermen 142-87 in the Group Stage. KGC defeated Seoul SK Knights 90-84 in the Final to win EASL Champions Week.

- 2023-24 KBL Season record: 9-11

• October 21, 2023: 89-74 loss against Seoul SK Knights
• October 28, 2023: 63-59 win over Suwon KT Sonicboom
• October 31, 2023: 86-75 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• November 2, 2023: 96-74 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• November 4, 2023: 84-82 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
• November 5, 2023: 91-80 win over Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• November 7, 2023: 74-72 win over Busan KCC Egis
• November 10, 2023: 99-94 win over Wonju DB Promy
• November 12, 2023: 85-71 win over Changwon LG Sakers
• November 14, 2023: 81-63 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• November 17, 2023: 106-77 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
• November 19, 2023: 84-74 win over Busan KCC Egis
• November 21, 2023: 98-93 win over Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• November 24, 2023: 94-85 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
• November 26, 2023: 97-80 loss against Wonju DB Promy
• November 28, 2023: 86-82 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
• December 1, 2023: 108-77 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• December 3, 2023: 85-71 loss against Seoul SK Knights
• December 9, 2023: 93-78 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• December 10, 2023: 88-83 loss against Wonju DB Promy

- 2023-24 KBL Season stat leaders:

• Points: Park Ji Hoon – 12.9 ppg
• Rebounds: Darryl Monroe – 6.7 rpg
• Assists: Park Ji Hoon – 4.2 apg
• Steals: Park Ji Hoon – 1.2 spg
• Blocks: Du’Vaughn Maxwell – 1.4 bpg

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‍Chiba Jets (Japan – B.LEAGUE)

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- Team History:

• Founded: 2005
• 2020-21 B.LEAGUE Champions
• Emperor’s Cup Champions (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)

- 2022-23 B.LEAGUE season:

• Runners up in 2022-23 B.LEAGUE season
• B.LEAGUE record 53 regular season wins
• Loss just seven games all season
• Embarked on a 24-game winning streak from December 2022 to March 2023
• First on offense: scored 87.9 points per game
• Fifth on defense: conceded 74.8 points per game
• Playoffs: defeated Hiroshima Dragonflies 2-1 in quarterfinals; defeated Alvark Tokyo 2-0 in semifinals; lost to Ryukyu Golden Kings 2-0 in B.LEAGUE Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 3-0

• October 11, 2023: 93-75 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
• October 18, 2023: 85-82 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)
• November 1, 2023: 75-66 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: John Mooney – 30.0 ppg
• Rebounds: John Mooney – 16.0 rpg
• Assists: Yuki Togashi – 5.3 apg
• Steals: John Mooney – 3.0 spg
• Blocks: D.J. Stephens – 2.7 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• Away vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – December 13, 2023
• Home vs. Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) – December 27, 2023
• Home vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – January 10, 2024

- EASL History:

• 2019 Terrific 12: The Jets went 1-1, beating PBA side Blackwater Elite before losing to KBL side Seoul SK Knights.
• 2018 Terrific 12: The Jets went 0-2, falling to CBA side Guangzhou Loong Lions and KBL side Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
• 2017 Super 8: The Jets went 3-0, beating CBA side Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Chinese Taipei side Taipei Fubon Braves, and KBL side Seoul Samsung Thunders.
• The Jets beat KBL side Goyang Orions in the semifinals, before beating Zhejiang again to win the 2017 EASL Super 8 tournament.

- 2023-24 B.LEAGUE Season record: 11-8

• October 5, 2023: 80-63 win over Saga Ballooners
• October 7, 2023: 80-79 win over Saga Ballooners
• October 14, 2023: 93-86 win over Sun Rockers Shibuya
• October 15, 2023: 84-82 win over Sun Rockers Shibuya
• October 21, 2023: 89-66 loss against Yokohama B-Corsairs
• October 22, 2023: 88-70 win over Yokohama B-Corsairs
• October 25, 2023: 87-66 loss against Kawasaki Brave Thunders
• October 28, 2023: 79-69 win over Fighting Eagles Nagoya
• October 29, 2023: 88-73 loss against Fighting Eagles Nagoya
• November 4, 2023: 88-83 loss against SeaHorses Mikawa
• November 5, 2023: 101-90 win over SeaHorses Mikawa
• November 8, 2023: 86-78 win over Gunma Crane Thunders
• November 11, 2023: 95-76 loss against Saga Ballooners
• November 12, 2023: 78-72 win over Saga Ballooners
• November 30, 2023: 87-83 win over Shimane Susanoo Magic
• December 1, 2023: 90-53 loss against Shimane Susanoo Magic
• December 6, 2023: 94-72 win over Ibaraki Robots
• December 9, 2023: 92-61 win over Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
• December 10, 2023: 99-71 loss against Nagoya Diamond Dolphins

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Yuki Togashi – 19.5 ppg
• Rebounds: John Mooney – 12.4 rpg
• Assists: Yuki Togashi – 4.8 apg
• Steals: D.J. Stephens – 1.2 spg
• Blocks: Yuki Togashi – 0.8 bpg

Players to Watch

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Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters

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#12 Rhenz Abando – SG/SF

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- South Korea: KBL (Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters)

• 2023 KBL Champion
• 2023 KBL Regular Season Champion
• 2023 KBL Slam Dunk Contest Champion
• 2023 KBL 3x3 All-Star Game Champion

- University: Letran (Philippines)

• 2021 NCAA Philippines Champion
• 2021 NCAA Philippines MVP
• 2021 NCAA Philippines Mythical Five
• 2021 NCAA Philippines Rookie of the Year

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 15.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg

- 2023-24 KBL stats:

• 10.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.0 apg

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#86 Darryl Monroe – PF/C

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- 2023 EASL Champions Week champion

• USA NCAA Division 1: George Mason (2006-09)

• 2009 Second-team All-CAA

- Turkish First League champion (2018)

- Israeli League: Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016

• Israeli League champion (2016)
• Israeli League MVP (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)
• Israeli Basketball Premier League Finals MVP (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)
• All-Israeli League First Team (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)
• FIBA Europe Cup Starting Five (Maccabi Rishon LeZion - 2016)

- Italy A2 League: Scaligera Verona - 2015

• Italian Second League MVP (Scaligera Verona - 2015)
• Italian Second Cup winner (Scaligera Verona - 2015)

- France: Boulazac Dordogne - 2013

• French League All-Star (2013)

- South Korea: Anyang KGC

• 2003 KBL champion

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 19.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 9.5 apg, 1.0 spg

- 2023-24 KBL Stats:

• 10.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.7 apg

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#6 Park Ji Hoon – PG

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- University: Chung-Ang University

• Korea: 2^nd in KUSF Scoring (2017)

- South Korea: KBL

• 2016 KBL Draft: 6^th overall pick (Busan KT Sonicboom)
• Korea: 2x KBL Champion (Anyang KGC: 2020-21, 2022-23)

- South Korea National Basketball Team

• 39th Lee Sang Baek Cup Korea x Japan University Basketball Tournament National Team
• 2017 Taipei Summer Universiade men's Basketball Team

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 11.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.5 apg

- 2023-24 KBL Stats:

• 12.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.2 spg

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‍Chiba Jets‍

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#2 Yuki Togashi – PG

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- Former NBA G League Player (Texas Legends)

- Japan: B.LEAGUE (Chiba Jets)

• Japan: 2019 B.LEAGUE MVP
• Japan: 2017 B.LEAGUE All Star Game MVP
• Japan: 2020, 2022 B.LEAGUE Assist Leader
• Japan: 2019, 2023 Emporer's Cup MVP

- Japan National Basketball Team Captain

• 2023 FIBA World Cup: Qualified for Olympic Berth

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 18.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 5.3 apg

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stats:

• 19.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.1 spg

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#20 D.J. Stephens – SF

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- Former NBA player (Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies)

- 2023 All-EuroCup First Team (Prometey)

- 2× Ukrainian SuperLeague champion (Budivelnyk - 2017, Prometey - 2021)

• Ukrainian SuperLeague Best Five (Prometey - 2021)

- France: Pro A champion (Le Mans - 2018)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 15.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2.3 spg, 2.7 bpg

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stats:

• 12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.1 spg

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#33 John Mooney – C

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- USA NCAA Division 1: Notre Dame (2016-20)

• 2020 First-team All-ACC
• 2019 Third-team All-ACC

- Australia: NBL (Perth Wildcats)

• 2021 NBL Cup winner
• 2021 All-NBL First Team
• 2021 NBL rebounding leader (11.4 rpg)
• 2021 Perth Wildcats MVP

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 30.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.0 spg, 1.0 bpg

- B.LEAGUE 2023-24 Season stats:

• 17.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.0 spg