GAME NOTES: GROUP B — New Taipei Kings (1-2) vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (4-0)

New Taipei looks to avenge Christmas Day loss with a rematch against Ryukyu

January 5, 2025 — Xinzhaung Gymnasium, New Taipei City

Where to Watch:

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The New Taipei Kings and Ryukyu Golden Kings tip off at 7:10 p.m. CST. Here’s where you can catch the game!

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Chinese Taipei

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Watch the game live on Videoland (pay TV).

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Japan:

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

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Outside These Regions:

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

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Get your tickets now at https://newtaipeikings.kktix.cc/events/37c85020.

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Storylines:

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Familiar Foes

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A rematch looms as the New Taipei Kings take on the Ryukyu Golden Kings this Wednesday.

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The Kings aim to avenge their heartbreaking Christmas Day loss in Okinawa, where Ryuichi Kishimoto’s clutch three-pointer sealed a Ryukyu victory. This will mark the fourth meeting between the teams since last season when they split the series with one win apiece.

New Taipei desperately needs a win to keep their Final Four hopes alive. With two losses already and only three games remaining, another defeat would severely hurt their chances.

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Can the Kings turn the tables this season and stay in the hunt for a Final Four berth?

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Ryukyu Clinch First with a Win

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The Ryukyu Golden Kings enter the game with a perfect 4-0 record and a chance to clinch Group B.

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Their undefeated start includes victories over the PBA’s Meralco Bolts, the Macau Black Bears, the 2024 KBL champions Busan KCC Egis, and the 2024 P. LEAGUE+ champions New Taipei Kings. After falling short of the Final Four last season, finishing behind New Taipei and KBL’s Seoul SK Knights, Ryukyu is determined to redeem themselves.

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Having already secured a Final Four spot with their Christmas Day win, Ryukyu now aims to cement their dominance by clinching Group B on New Taipei’s home court. Can they add to the Kings’ woes and assert their supremacy?

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Kishimoto vs. JLin7

*New Taipei Kings' star Jeremy Lin (#7) will face off against Ryukyu Golden Kings' star Ryuichi Kishimoto (#14) for the fourth time in their EASL careers.*

Ryuichi Kishimoto was sensational on Christmas Day, dropping 20 points and nailing six three-pointers, including a dagger in the final minute to seal Ryukyu’s win over New Taipei.

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For Kishimoto, it was a moment of redemption, echoing Jeremy Lin’s heroics a year prior when Lin hit a game-winning three to propel the Kings into the 2024 EASL Final Four.

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This season, Kishimoto has been instrumental for Ryukyu, averaging 13 points, 3.3 three-pointers, and 5.8 assists across four EASL games. Over his last three outings, he has stepped up even more, averaging 16.3 points per game.

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Meanwhile, Lin has been a model of consistency, posting averages of 22 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in three EASL games this year.

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In this clash of star guards, who will rise to lead their team to victory?

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New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+ — Chinese Taipei) Players to Watch:

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#7 Jeremy Lin, Guard, 6-foot-2

2024-25 EASL Averages: 22.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists
2019 NBA Champion with Toronto Raptors
Lin spent time in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors (2010-11), New York Knicks (2011-12), Houston Rockets (2012-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15), Charlotte Hornets (2015-16), Brooklyn Nets (2016-18), Atlanta Hawks (2018-19), and Toronto Raptors (2019).
2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champion with New Taipei Kings
2024 P. LEAGUE+ Assists Leader with Kaohsiung 17Live Steelers
2020 Chinese CBA All-Star with Beijing Ducks
2x First-Team NCAA D-I All-Ivy League with Harvard University (2009, 2010)
2008 Second-Team NCAA D-I All-Ivy League with Harvard University
2012 Time 100: Most Influential People of the Year
2012 ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2023
Lin attended college at Harvard University
Lin is from Paolo Alto, California, USA

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#31 Sani Sakakini, Forward, 6-feet-8

2024-25 EASL Averages: 19.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
2x All-Jordanian League First Team with Al Riyadi Amman and Sarriyet Ramallah (2010, 2013)
2013 All-Jordanian League Center with Sarriyet Ramallah
2x Palestinian Basketball League Champion (2013, 2021)
2014 All-Chinese CBA Third Team with Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles
2015 Jordanian League Champion with Orthodox Club
2015 All-Asian Championships Second Team with Orthodox Club
2x All-Chinese CBA Honorable Mentions with Jiangsu Tongxi and Tianjin Ronggang (2016, 2017)
2022 All-T1 League First Team with Taichung Wagor Suns
Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2024
Sakakini is from Ramallah, Palestine

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#55 Kenny Manigault, Forward, 6-foot-5

2024-25 EASL Averages: 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 4.0 steals
2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champion with New Taipei Kings
2023 P. LEAGUE+ Second Team with New Taipei Kings
2x P. LEAGUE+ Steals King (2023, 2024)
Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2022
Manigault attended college at the University of South Carolina, Aiken, and the University of Pikeville.
Manigault is from North Charleston, South Carolina, USA

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Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE — Japan) Players to Watch:

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#45 Jack Cooley — Center, 6-foot-10

2024-25 EASL Averages: 20.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2019 FIBA Europe Cup Champion with Dinamo Sassari (ITA)
2012 Second-Team All-Big East with Notre Dame University
2012 Big East Most Improved Player with Notre Dame University
Cooley spent time in the NBA with the Utah Jazz (2015) and the Sacramento Kings (2017-18) after going undrafted in 2013.
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2019
Cooley attended college at the University of Notre Dame (2009-2013)
Cooley is from Evanston, Illinois, USA.

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#14 Ryuichi Kishimoto — Guard, 5-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Averages: 13.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists
2014 bj league Rookie of the Year with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2014 bj league Playoff MVP with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
2022-23 B.LEAGUE Champion with the Ryukyu Golden Kings
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2013
Kishimoto attended Daito Bunka University
Kishimoto is from Okinawa, Japan

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#53 Alex Kirk — Center, 6-foot-11

2024-25 EASL Averages: 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks
2x B.LEAGUE champion with Alvark Tokyo (2019, 2020)
2019 FIBA Asia Champions Cup Champion with Alvark Tokyo
2019 FIBA Asia Champions Cup Most Valuable Player with Alvark Tokyo
2013 Second-Team All-MWC with the University of New Mexico
2x NCAA MWC All-Defensive Team with the University of New Mexico (2013, 2014)
Kirk spent time in the NBA with the Clevelena Cavaliers (2014-15) after going undrafted in 2014.
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2023
Kirk attended college at the University of New Mexico (2010-14)
Kirk is from Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA.

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New Taipei Kings By the Numbers:

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Team History