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

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New Taipei visits Okinawa to battle undefeated Ryukyu in Christmas Day Classic

December 23, 2024 — Okinawa Arena, Okinawa, Japan

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Storylines:

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EASL History

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This will be the third matchup between the Ryukyu Golden Kings and the New Taipei Kings, dating back to last season. The two teams splitted the season series last year.

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New Taipei took the first game off Jeremy Lin’s clutch 3-pointer with less than a minute to go, icing the game to help the Kings clinch a spot to the 2024 EASL Final Four in Cebu.

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Ryukyu avenged their defeat by crushing the Kings 90-67 at home two weeks later, when the Golden Kings outscored the Kings 55-25 in the second half.

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New Taipei ended up advancing to the Final Four, while Ryukyu was on the outside looking in.

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In the first of two matchups this season, who will emerge victorious?

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New Taipei looks to Carry Momentum from Macau

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The New Taipei Kings are coming off an impressive showing at the 2024 Macau Classic two weeks ago, where they dominated the hometown heroes Macau Black Bears 114-95.

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Fan favorite Jeremy Lin ran the show in that one, scoring a team-high 27 points to help the Kings secure their first EASL win of the season.

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The 114 points scored was a franchise record in EASL play.

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With their offense humming against the Black Bears, the Kings look to carry their momentum to Okinawa, where they averaged just 67 points in their two games against Ryukyu last season.

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Ryukyu Remains Undefeated

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The Ryukyu Golden Kings have vengeance in their mind after missing the Final Four last season, when they finished third in the group behind KBL’s Seoul SK Knights and P. LEAGUE+’s New Taipei Kings.

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This year, Ryukyu started their season off with a bang, rattling off three straight wins over PBA’s Meralco Bolts, the Macau Black Bears, and 2024 KBL champions Busan KCC Egis.

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With three games remaining in the group stage, the Golden Kings will face their toughest opponents yet, with the first of two straight matchups against the Kings.

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Will Ryukyu keep their winning streak alive?

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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: 23.7 points, 14.7 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 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: 10.7 points, 0.7 rebounds, 6.7 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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#12 Keve Aluma — Forward, 6-foot-9

2024-25 EASL Averages: 27.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists
2x Second-Team NCAA All-ACC with Virginia Tech University
Joined the Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2024
Aluma attended college at Virginia Tech (2020-22)
Aluma is from Berlin, Maryland, USA.

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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: 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 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 Influencial 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-foot-8

2024-25 EASL Averages: 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 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: 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists
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 University of South Carolina, Aiken and University of Pikeville.
Manigault is from North Charleston, South Carolina, USA