Game Notes: Group A – Taipei Fubon Braves (0-2) vs. TNT Tropang Giga (0-2)

November 15, 2023 – Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

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Storylines:‍

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1. Someone has to win, right?

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Both teams enter Wednesday’s contest winless in EASL this season.

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Taipei Fubon Braves lost a heartbreaker against Chiba Jets at home in Gameweek 2. The Jets won the game in overtime off an incredible one-legged three from Japanese star Yuki Togashi. The Braves then fell to the defending EASL champions Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters the following week in a blowout.

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Meanwhile, TNT Tropang Giga were dismantled 93-75 by Chiba Jets during the opening tip of the EASL Season. The team fell to the Jets again in the first-ever EASL game in the Philippines two weeks ago in a more valiant effort, losing by nine.

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Both teams need a win if they have any hope of making it to the Final Four in March.

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2. Fubon struggling out of the gate

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The P. LEAGUE+ season commenced this past weekend, with the Taipei Fubon Braves playing in back-to-back games. Their weekend produced mixed results, as they fell to New Taipei Kings in the season opener, 96-89, before defeating Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers 117-94 on Sunday.

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The Braves’ stars have struggled to fire so far this season. Two-time P. LEAGUE+ Finals MVP Michael Singletary shot 34 percent against Chiba and is shooting 23 percent from the field in his first two games of the P. LEAGUE+ season.

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Can the Braves get over a sluggish start to the season?

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3. RHJ recovers from gastroenteritis

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Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – the former NBA first-round pick – missed his last EASL game against Chiba Jets and TNT’s PBA season opener after suffering from gastroenteritis. In his first game back in the PBA, against Converge FiberXers on Saturday, he was ejected after unintentionally throwing the ball at Converge forward Mike Nieto following a dunk. Hollis-Jefferson finished the game with 14 points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes of play.

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Hollis-Jefferson struggled in his first taste of EASL action against Chiba in Gameweek 1, scoring 15 points and hitting just six of his 28 shots for 21 percent from the field.

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How will TNT’s star man respond in his EASL return?

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By the Numbers

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Taipei Fubon Braves

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- Team History:

• Founded: 1982
• 3x P. LEAGUE+ Championships (2021, 2022, 2023)
• 1x SBL Championship (2019)

- 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

• Regular Season: 25-15 record, 2nd in P. LEAGUE+
• Playoffs: defeated Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 3-0 in semifinals; defeated New Taipei Kings 4-2 in finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 0-2

• October 18, 2023: 82-85 loss to Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
• October 25, 2023: 98-77 loss to Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Michael Singletary – 29.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Michael Singletary – 18.0 rpg
• Assists: Chris Johnson – 6.0 apg
• Steals: Sedrick Barefield – 2.5 spg
• Blocks: Chris Johnson – 2.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• Home vs. TNT Tropang Giga (PBA) – November 15, 2023
• Away vs. TNT Tropang Giga (PBA) – December 20, 2023
• Away vs. Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE) – December 27, 2023
• Home vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – February 7, 2024

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Braves went 0-2, losing to KBL side Anyang KGC and B.LEAGUE side Ryukyu Golden Kings
• 2018 Terrific 12 (an EASL competition): Braves went 1-1, defeating CBA side Shandong Golden Stars and losing to KBL side Seoul Samsung Thunders

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Season record: 1-1

• November 11, 2023: 89-96 loss against New Taipei Kings
• November 12, 2023: 115-94 win over Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Season stat leaders:

• Points: Igor Zaytsev – 18.5 ppg
• Rebounds: Stephen Zimmerman – 11.0 rpg
• Assists: Michael Singletary & Stephen Zimmerman – 4.0 apg
• Steals: Chou Kuei-Yu – 2.5 spg
• Blocks: Stephen Zimmerman – 2.0 bpg

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TNT Tropang Giga

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- Team History:

• Founded: 1990
• 9 PBA Championships (1998 Centennial, 2003 All-Filipino, 2008-09 Philippine Cup, 2010-11 Philippine Cup, 2011 Commissioner’s, 2011-12 Philippine Cup, 2012-13 Philippine Cup, 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, 2021 Philippine Cup, 2023 Governors’ Cup)

• 22 PBA Finals appearances

- 2022-23 PBA Governors’ Cup

• 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Champions
• Elimination Round: 10-1 record, 1^st in PBA
• First on offense: scored 115.9 points per game
• Playoffs: defeated Phoenix Super LPG 132-105 in quarterfinals; defeated Meralco Bolts 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 4-2 in Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 0-2

• October 11, 2023: 93-75 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
• November 1, 2023: 75-66 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Quincy Miller – 22.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Quincy Miller – 9.5 rpg
• Assists: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – 5.0 apg
• Steals: Calvin Oftana – 3.0 spg
• Blocks: Kirell Montalbo & Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser – 0.5 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• Away vs. Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) – November 15, 2023
• Away vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – December 6, 2023
• Away vs. Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+) – December 20, 2023
• Home vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – January 24, 2024

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: TNT went 0-2, losing to B.LEAGUE side Utsunomiya Brex and KBL side Seoul SK Knights
• 2019 Terrific 12: TNT went 1-1, falling to CBA side Liaoning Flying Leopards and beating B.LEAGUE side Niigata Albirex

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Season record: 1-1

• November 5, 2023: 110-102 loss against Magnolia Hotshots
• November 11, 2023: 101-98 win over Converge FiberXers

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Season stat leaders:

• Points: Quincy Miller – 37.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Quincy Miller – 14.0 rpg
• Assists: Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser – 6.0 apg
• Steals: Quincy Miller – 4.0 spg
• Blocks: Quincy Miller & Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser – 2.0 bpg

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Players to Watch

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Taipei Fubon Braves

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#5 Chris Johnson – PF

- USA NCAA Division 1: Louisiana State (2005-2009)

• 2009 SEC All-Defensive Team

- Former NBA player (Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves)

• NBA career stats: 71 games – 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg

- Former NBA D League player (Dakota Wizards, Santa Cruz Warriors)

• 2011 All-NBA D-League First Team
• 2011 NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year
• 2011 NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team
• 2011 NBA D-League All-Star

- Chinese Taipei: P. LEAGUE+

• 3x P. LEAGUE+ champion (Taipei Fubon Braves: 2021, 2022, 2023)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 18.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 2.0 bpg

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stats:

• 7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg

#17 Michael Singletary - PF

- USA NCAA Division 1: Texas Tech (2007-2011)

- Former NBA D League player (Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Erie Bayhawks)

• 2013 NBA D-League champion (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

- Chinese Taipei: Taipei Fubon Braves

• Chinese Taipei: 3× P. LEAGUE+ champion (2021, 2022, 2023)
• Chinese Taipei: 2× P. LEAGUE+ Finals MVP (2021, 2022)

- Thailand League: Mono Vampire

• 2017 Thailand League champion
• 2017 Thailand League MVP
• 2x Thailand Basketball Super League: (2017, 2018)
• 2018 Thailand Basketball Super League MVP

- Italy: Basket Ravenna Piero Manetti

• 2015 Serie A2 Basket All-Star

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 29.0 ppg, 18.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stats:

• 9.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg

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#9 Stephen Zimmerman – C

- USA NCAA Division 1: UNLV (2015-2016)

- Former NBA player (Orlando Magic)

• 2016 NBA Draft: 2nd round, 41st overall pick – Detroit Pistons
• NBA career stats: 19 games – 1.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg

- Former NBA D League player (Erie Bayhawks, South Bay Lakers, Westchester Knicks, Austin Spurs)

- 2015 McDonald’s All-American

- 2014 FIBA Americas U-18 Championship Gold Medalist

- 2018 FIBA AmeriCup Bronze Medalist

- 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ season stats:

• 15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.0 bpg

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TNT Tropang Giga

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#14 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – SF

- USA NCAA Division 1: Arizona (2013-2015)

• 2015 First Team All-Pac-12
• 2015 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team
• 2014 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team
• 2015 NCAA Tournament West Region All-Tournament Team

- Former NBA player (Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers)

• 2015 NBA Draft: 1st round, 23rd overall pick – Portland Trail Blazers
• NBA career stats: 9.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg
• NBA career-best season: 13.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg (Brooklyn Nets – 2017-18)

- 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Champion (TNT Tropang Giga)

• 2023 PBA Governors' Cup Best Import of the Conference

- 2013 McDonald’s All-American

- 2013 Jordan Brand Classic

- 2016 5-star high school recruit

- Jordan Men’s National Basketball Team (2023 FIBA World Cup)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 15.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.0 spg

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup season stats:

• 14.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.0 apg

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#30 Quincy Miller – PF

- USA NCAA Division 1: Baylor (2011-12)

• 2012 NCAA Big 12 All-Rookie Team

- Former NBA player (Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons)

• 2015 NBA Draft: 2nd round, 38th overall pick – Denver Nuggets
• NBA career stats: 4.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg
• NBA career-best season: 4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg (Denver Nuggets – 2013-14)

- Former NBA D-League player (Iowa Energy, Reno Bighorns, Grand Rapids Drive)

• 2015 NBA D-League All-Star

- Serbia: Crvena zvezda

• 2016 All-EuroLeague Second Team
• 2016 ABA League champion
• 2016 Serbian League champion

- Israel: Maccabi Tel Aviv

• 2017 Israeli Cup winner

- 2011 Jordan Brand Classic All-American

- 2010 5-star high school recruit

- USA U-18 Men’s National Basketball Team (2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship: Gold)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 22.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 2.0 spg

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup season stats:

• 37.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 4.0 spg, 2.0 bpg

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#12 Glenn Khobuntin – SF

- 2015 PBA Draft: 10^th overall pick - NLEX Road Warriors

• 2× PBA champion (2021 Philippine, 2023 Governors')
• 2017 PBA All-Star (NLEX Road Warriors)
• 2014 UAAP champion (National University)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg

- 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup season stats:

• 7.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg