Game Notes: Final Four Semifinals – Seoul SK Knights (4-2) vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (4-2)

March 8, 2024 – Hoops Dome, Cebu

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Storylines:

1. 2023 EASL Champions Week rematch

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The Seoul SK Knights and the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters are fierce rivals. Last year, Seoul lost to Jung Kwan Jang (then called Anyang KGC) in both the KBL and EASL Champions Week finals.

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This season, Seoul is 27-18 in the KBL and finished the 2023-24 EASL group stage with a 4-2 record.

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Jung Kwan Jang has struggled in the KBL this season, and is currently tied for second-last place. However, they managed to secure an EASL Final Four appearance with a 4-2 record in the Group Stage.

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Former Anyang superstar and 2023 EASL Champions Week MVP Omari Spellman left the team in December. He was replaced by a new import, Robert Carter Jr., but the team has only won four KBL games since Carter’s debut on December 22. Anyang has been 2-1 in the EASL since Carter joined.

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SK has dominated the head-to-heads in the KBL this season, currently on a 5-0 record against Jung Kwan Jang.

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2. Rhenz Abando returns home‍

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Second-year Jung Kwan Jang guard, and Gilas Pilipinas star, Rhenz Abando is the only Filipino player competing in the EASL Final Four.

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Abando has just recovered from a nasty injury suffered in the KBL at the end of December. He looks set to play this weekend after returning to KBL action last Sunday.

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Abando has averaged 15.7 PPG over three games in the EASL. He is averaging 9.8 PPG in 26 games in his second KBL season.

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Abando won last year’s Champions Week with Jung Kwan Jang and is seeking his second EASL title at this year’s Final Four.

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3. Can the EASL’s leading scorer be contained?‍

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Seoul’s Jameel Warney is the EASL’s leading scorer (37.3 PPG) by a wide margin. Former Meralco star Zach Lofton, who played four games, is second on 30.5 PPG.

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Warney is also the KBL’s second-leading scorer this season (24 PPG).

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Warney will have help in the Final Four from Leon Williams (15.2 PPG in the EASL and top-three in rebounding with 12.2 RPG), forming a deadly twin tower in SK’s frontcourt.

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Both Warney and Williams also played in EASL Champions Week last year.

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Players to Watch

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Seoul SK Knights:

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#34 Jameel Warney – C

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- USA NCAA Division 1: Stony Brook (2012-2016)

• 3x AP honorable mention All-American (2014-2016)
• 3x NCAA America East Player of the Year (2014-2016)
• 3× NCAA All-America East First Team (2014–2016)
• 2× America East Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
• 2013 NCAA America East Rookie of the Year
• 2016 NCAA America East tournament MVP
• No. 20 retired by Stony Brook University

- Former NBA player (Dallas Mavericks)

• NBA career stats: 3 games – 5.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg

- Former NBA G-League player (Texas Legends, Westchester Knicks)

• 2018 All-NBA G-League First Team

- 2017 FIBA AmeriCup MVP

- 2017 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year

- South Korea: KBL – Seoul SK Knights

• 3x KBL Import of the Year (2020, 2022, 2023)
• 3x All-KBL Team (2020, 2022, 2023)
• 2023 KBL Top Scorer (24.0 ppg)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 37.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.8 apg

- 2023-24 KBL season stats:

• 24.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.3 apg

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#22 Oh Jae Hyun – G

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- University: South Korea - Hanyang University

- South Korea: KBL – Seoul SK Knights

• 2020-21 KBL Draft: 2nd round, 1st pick
• 2020-21 KBL Rookie of the Year
• 2021-22 KBL Champion

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 6.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.5 apg

- 2023-24 KBL season:

• 11.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.4 apg

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#11 Heo Il Young

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- University: South Korea – Konkuk University

- South Korea: KBL – (Daegu Orions – 2009-21, Seoul SK Knights – 2021-)

• 2009 KBL Draft: 2nd overall pick – Daegu Orions
• 2x KBL Champion (2016 – Daegu Orions, 2022 – Seoul SK Knights)

- South Korea National Basketball Team

• Gold Medalist (2014 Asian Games)
• Silver Medalist (2016 William Jones Cup)
• Bronze Medalist (2018 Asian Games)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 12.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.5 apg

- 2023-24 KBL season:

• 8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.8 apg

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Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters

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#4 Robert Carter Jr. – PF

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- USA NCAA Division I: Georgia Tech (2012-14); Maryland (2015-16)

- Career team history:

• Italy: Serie A – Enel Brindisi (2016-17)
• Lithuania: LKL – Lietuvos rytas (2017)
• Turkey: TBL – Gaziantep Basketbol (2017-18)
• Turkey: TBSL – Afyon Belediye S.K. (2018-19)
• Japan: B.LEAGUE

• Shimane Susanoo Magic (2019-20)
• Yokohama B-Corsairs (2020-21)
• San-en NeoPhoenix (2021-22)

• Israel: BSL – Bnei Herzliya (2022-23)
• South Korea: KBL – Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2023-)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 23.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.7 apg

- 2023-24 KBL Stats:

• 18.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg

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#99 Jamil Wilson – SF

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- USA NCAA Division I: Oregon (2009-10); Marquette (2011-14)

• Former NBA player (Los Angeles Clippers)

- NBA career stats: 7.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 10 starts

- Former NBA D-League/G League player (Bakersfield Jam, Texas Legends, Agua Caliente Clippers, Fort Wayne Mad Ants)

- Career team history:

• Puerto Rico: BSN – Cangrejeros de Santurce (2016); Piratas de Quebradillas (2022); Vaqueros de Bayamón (2023); Leones de Ponce (2023);
• Italy: Serie A - Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino (2016-17, 2018-19); Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2018); Virtus Roma (2020)
• Russia: VTB United League - UNICS Kazan (2019-20)
• Israel: BSL – Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. (2020-21); Liga Leumit – Maccabi Rishon Lezion (2021-22)
• Mexico: LNBP – Plateros de Fresnillo (2022, 2023)
• Lithuania: LKL – Labas GAS (2022-23)
• Venezuela: SPB – Guaros de Lara (2023)
• Philippines: PBA – Converge FiberXers (2023-24)
• South Korea: KBL – Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (2024-)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 15.5 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 5.5 apg

- 2023-24 KBL Stats:

• 9.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg

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#6 Park Ji Hoon – PG

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- University: Chung-Ang University

• Korea: 2nd in KUSF Scoring (2017)

- South Korea: KBL

• 2016 KBL Draft: 6th 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:

• 10.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.3 apg

- 2023-24 KBL Stats:

• 12.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.2 apg

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By the Numbers

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Seoul SK Knights (South Korea – KBL)

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- Team History:

• Founded: 1997
• Honors: 3x KBL Champions (1999-00, 2017-18, 2021-22)
• 2x EASL Runners Up (2019 Terrific 12, 2023 EASL Champions Week)

- 2022-23 KBL season:

• Runners-up in the 2022-23 KBL season
• Regular season record: 36-18
• Second in the regular season
• Playoffs: defeated Jeonju KCC Egis 3-0 in quarterfinals; defeated Changwon LG Sakers 3-0 in semifinals; lost to Anyang KGC 4-3 in KBL Finals

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 4-2

• October 18, 2023: 80-79 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE)
• November 1, 2023: 82-69 win over Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE)
• November 8, 2023: 90-72 loss against New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)
• December 27, 2023: 81-80 win over Meralco Bolts (PBA)
• January 31, 2024: 89-57 win over New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)
• February 7, 2024: 72-62 win over Meralco Bolts (PBA)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Jameel Warney – 37.3 ppg
• Rebounds: Leon Williams – 12.2 rpg
• Assists: Kim Sun Hyung – 5.7 apg
• Steals: Leon Williams – 2.5 spg
• Blocks: Jameel Warney – 1.5 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• EASL Final Four 2024 Semifinals vs. Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL) – March 8, 2024

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Seoul SK Knights went 2-1, defeating Bay Area Dragons 92-84 and PBA side TNT Tropang Giga 80-69 in the Group Stage. They lost to KBL side Anyang KGC 90-84 in the Final.
• 2019 Terrific 12: Seoul SK Knights went 3-1, beating PBA side Blackwater Elite and B.LEAGUE side Chiba Jets in the Group Stage. SK defeated CBA side Zhejiang Lions in the semifinals before falling to CBA side Liaoning Flying Leopards in the finals.

- KBL 2023-24 Season record: 27-18

• October 21, 2023: 89-74 win over Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
• October 22, 2023: 85-80 win over Suwon KT Sonicboom
• October 24, 2023: 90-79 win over Goyang Sono Skygunners
• October 27, 2023: 78-67 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• October 29, 2023: 96-94 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• November 4, 2023: 69-50 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
• November 11, 2023: 82-80 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• November 12, 2023: 106-76 loss against Wonju DB Promy
• November 16, 2023: 76-74 win over Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• November 18, 2023: 102-87 win over Suwon KT Sonicboom
• November 20, 2023: 82-75 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• November 24, 2023: 86-80 win over Wonju DB Promy
• November 26, 2023: 84-77 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
• November 30, 2023: 87-73 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
• December 2, 2023: 74-72 loss against Busan KCC Egis
• December 3, 2023: 85-71 win over Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
• December 7, 2023: 78-75 win over Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• December 12, 2023: 91-82 loss against Wonju DB Promy
• December 14, 2023: 81-69 win over Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• December 16, 2023: 85-77 win over Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• December 19, 2023: 85-71 win over Suwon KT Sonicboom
• December 21, 2023: 80-70 win over Goyang Sono Skygunners
• December 23, 2023: 64-62 win over Changwon LG Sakers
• December 25, 2023: 89-74 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• December 30, 2023: 86-68 win over Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
• January 1, 2024: 80-76 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• January 3, 2024: 77-74 win over Busan KCC Egis
• January 5, 2024: 87-61 win over Goyang Sono Skygunners
• January 7, 2024: 83-71 win over Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
• January 9, 2024: 64-57 win over Changwon LG Sakers
• January 11, 2024: 90-75 loss against Busan KCC Egis
• January 18, 2024: 97-94 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• January 20, 2024: 76-68 win over Wonju DB Promy
• January 22, 2024: 88-75 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• January 25, 2024: 68-65 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
• January 27, 2024: 92-87 loss against Busan KCC Egis
• February 3, 2024: 78-76 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
• February 4, 2024: 92-80 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• February 10, 2024: 84-72 win over Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
• February 11, 2024: 80-70 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• February 13, 2024: 82-68 loss against Wonju DB Promy
• February 15, 2024: 76-67 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
• February 28, 2024: 98-66 win over Goyang Sono Skygunners
• March 1, 2024: 79-66 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• March 3, 2024: 90-69 win over Busan KCC Egis

- KBL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Jameel Warney – 24.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Jameel Warney – 11.3 rpg
• Assists: Kim Sun Hyung – 6.0 apg
• Steals: An Young Jun – 1.4 spg
• Blocks: Jameel Warney – 1.1 bpg

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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: 4-2

• October 25, 2023: 98-77 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)
• December 6, 2023: 105-97 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
• December 13, 2023: 102-69 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
• January 10, 2024: 115-98 loss against Chiba Jets (B.LEAGUE)
• January 24, 2024: 88-76 win over TNT Tropang Giga (PBA)
• February 7, 2024: 84-70 win over Taipei Fubon Braves (P. LEAGUE+)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Robert Carter Jr. – 23.3 ppg
• Rebounds: Jamil Wilson – 12.0 rpg
• Assists: Jamil Wilson – 5.5 apg
• Steals: Jamil Wilson – 1.5 spg
• Blocks: Jamil Wilson – 3.0 bpg

- EASL 2023-24 Season upcoming games:

• EASL Final Four 2024 Semifinals vs. Seoul SK Knights (KBL) – March 8, 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: 14-31

• 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
• December 16, 2023: 84-75 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• December 18, 2023: 91-80 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• December 22, 2023: 104-75 loss against Busan KCC Egis
• December 24, 2023: 113-85 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
• December 26, 2023: 94-75 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
• December 28, 2023: 85-81 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
• December 30, 2023: 86-68 loss against Seoul SK Knights
• December 31, 2023: 93-86 loss against Wonju DB Promy
• January 2, 2024: 84-80 win over Changwon LG Sakers
• January 4, 2024: 81-70 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• January 7, 2024: 83-71 loss against Seoul SK Knights
• January 17, 2024: 93-86 loss against Goyang Sono Skygunners
• January 19, 2024: 86-77 win over Seoul Samsung Thunders
• January 21, 2024: 114-90 win over Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• January 27, 2024: 94-78 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
• January 29, 2024: 108-99 loss against Busan KCC Egis
• February 2, 2024: 81-75 loss against Busan KCC Egis
• February 4, 2024: 99-84 loss against Wonju DB Promy
• February 10, 2024: 84-72 loss against Seoul SK Knights
• February 11, 2024: 90-77 loss against Suwon KT Sonicboom
• February 13, 2024: 73-60 loss against Seoul Samsung Thunders
• February 15, 2024: 77-66 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• February 28, 2024: 98-81 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• March 1, 2024: 97-64 loss against Changwon LG Sakers
• March 3, 2024: 92-87 win over Goyang Sono Skygunners

- 2023-24 KBL Season stat leaders:

• Points: Robert Carter Jr. – 18.4 ppg
• Rebounds: Robert Carter Jr. – 7.3 rpg
• Assists: Choi Seong Won – 4.3 apg
• Steals: Park Ji Hoon – 1.3 spg
• Blocks: Rhenz Abando – 0.9 bpg