GAME NOTES: GROUP A — Hiroshima Dragonflies (0-0) vs. Hong Kong Eastern (0-0)

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Two EASL newcomers look to start their season with a win

October 16, 2024 — F-Pico Arena, Fukuyama, Japan

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Storylines:

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Proving Hong Kong Eastern Belongs

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Hong Kong enters the 2024-25 East Asia Super League season as one of two expansion teams, alongside the Macau Black Bears. Though Eastern possesses a handful of regionally recognized veterans, it remains one of the lesser-known clubs in this year’s field.

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Hong Kong last participated in a major tournament at the 2023 ASEAN Basketball League Invitational — a tournament-style competition featuring eight teams from Southeast Asia. Despite finishing second in pool play, Eastern cruised to the championship series where it took down Vietnamese team, the Saigon Heat, in three games.

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It’s clear that Hong Kong has international experience and a talented roster, but the question remains whether it can beat some of EASL’s more established participants. In Macau’s season opener, the Black Bears led reigning PBA champions, the Meralco Bolts, for most of the first quarter before ultimately buckling.

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Can Eastern fend off defending B.LEAGUE champions, the Hiroshima Dragonflies, away from home? Or will both expansion teams tip off their EASL campaigns with losses?

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Hiroshima enters as reigning B.LEAGUE Champions

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As reigning B.LEAGUE champions, Hiroshima has high expectations this season. In 2023-24, the Dragonflies knocked off heavy favorites — and fellow Japanese EASL team — the Ryukyu Golden Kings to win their first-ever domestic title.

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Although Hiroshima returns outstanding imports Dwayne Evans II and Kerry Blackshear Jr., the loss of head coach Kyle Milling is a costly one. Under new head coach Shogo Asayama — a former Dragonflies’ team captain — the team has gotten off to a rocky 0-4 start in the B.LEAGUE, including consecutive losses to Milling’s new team, Gunma Crane Thunders.

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Wednesday marks Hiroshima’s EASL debut and the beginning of a new, region-wide challenge. The Dragonflies will look to its showdown with Hong Kong as a way to break their four-game losing streak.

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Familiar Faces

The 2024-25 season marks Eastern’s first EASL experience as an organization. However, three of its stars — Kobey Lam, Glen Yang and Cameron Clark — have competed in past EASL events. Given the players’ prior participation in the league, Hong Kong could have an unseen advantage.

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In March 2023, Lam, Yang and Clark all competed in EASL Champions Week — a four-day-long tournament involving teams from Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines. Lam and Yang suited up for the now-disbanded Bay Area Dragons while Clark was a member of the San Miguel Beermen (PBA).

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In two games with the Beermen, Clark’s offensive ability was put on full display. The 6-foot-7 forward notched 25 and 35 points in back-to-back contests against the Ryukyu Golden Kings and Korean side, Anyang KGC. Lam and Yang’s Dragons, meanwhile, placed third in the tournament after making it past the group stage and beating Ryukyu 90-70 in the Third-Place Game.

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Hiroshima Dragonflies (Japan — B.LEAGUE) Players to Watch:

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#30 Ryo Yamazaki, Guard, 6-feet

Ryo Yamazaki (#30) became a surprise hero in Hiroshima's 2023-24 B.LEAGUE Championship run, picking up Championship MVP honors.

2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
- 9.3 points, 2.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
2023-24 NISSAY B.LEAGUE Championship MVP
Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2023
Signed with the Saitama Broncos in 2013
Yamazaki attended college at Tacoma Community College
Yamazaki is from Saitama, Japan

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#8 Kerry Blackshear Jr., Forward, 6-foot-8

Kerry Blackshear Jr. (#8) joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022 and was named the B.LEAGUE's Sixth Man of the Year this past season.

2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages some text
- 18.0 points, 4.0 assists, 6.5 rebounds
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Sixth-Man of the Year
Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022
Blackshear Jr. went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft
2020 Second-Team All-SEC with Florida
2019 Second-Team All-ACC with Virginia Tech
Blackshear Jr. attended college at Virginia Tech (2015-2019) and Florida (2019-20)
Blackshear Jr. is from Orlando, Florida, USA

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#24 Nick Mayo, Forward, 6-foot-7

Nick Mayo (#24) has spent his entire professional career in Japan since going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. He averages 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds this season.

2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
- 11.5 points, 2.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champion
Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2021
Mayo went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft
4x First-Team All-OVC (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
2016 OVC Freshman of the Year
Mayo attended college at Eastern Kentucky (2015-2019)
Mayo is from Oakland, Maine, USA

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Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) Players to Watch:

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#19 Chris McLaughlin — Center, 6-foot-8

Chris McLaughlin played a key role in Hong Kong Eastern winning the 2023 ASEAN Basketball League. The 6-foot-8 big earned ABL MVP honors.

2024 Season Averages
- 16 points, 3.7 assists, 11.2 rebounds
2023-24 HKBA Champion
2023-24 HKBA Most Valuable Player
2023 ABL Champion
2023 ABL Defensive Player of the Year
Joined Hong Kong Eastern in 2022
McLaughlin attended college at the University of Victoria
McLaughlin is from Oakville, Ontario, Canada

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#23 Ka Hin (Marco) Leung — Guard, 6-foot-2

Marco Leung (#23) is averaging just shy of 10 points per game for Hong Kong in the HKBA A1 this season.

2024 Season Averages
- 9.7 points, 1.0 assists, 1.0 rebounds
2023-24 HKBA Champion
2023 ABL Champion
Joined Hong Kong Eastern in 2019
2018 Hong Kong High School Triple Crown winner with Diocesan Boys’ School
2019 Hong Kong Junior College Cup champion with Chinese University of Hong Kong
Leung attended college at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Leung is from Hong Kong SAR

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#21 Cameron Clark — Forward, 6-foot-6

Cameron Clark joined Hong Kong Eastern this past offseason. The veteran journeyman is an elite offensive playmaker and scored 60 points over two games in his last taste of EASL action.

Joined Hong Kong Eastern in 2024
2017 LNB Pro A Champion with Elan Sportif Chalonnais
2017 All-LNB Pro A First Team with Elan Sportif Chalonnais
2017 LNB Pro A Scoring Champion with Elan Sportif Chalonnais
2017 LNB All-Star with Elan Sportif Chalonnais
2017 All-FIBA Europe Cup First Team with Elan Sportif Chalonnais
2017 FIBA Europe Cup Scoring Champion with Elan Sportif Chalonnais
Clark went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft
Clark attended college at Oklahoma (2010-2014)
Clark is from Sherman, Texas, USA

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Hiroshima By The Numbers:

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Team History

Founded in 2013
2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champions

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

Home vs. Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) — Oct. 16, 2024
Away vs. Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) — Oct. 30, 2024
Away vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Dec. 4, 2024
Away vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) — Dec. 25, 2024
Home vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Jan. 8, 2025
Home vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) — Jan. 22, 2025

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2023-2024 B.LEAGUE Champions

Regular season record: 36-24
Finished 5th in B.LEAGUE Western Conference
Defeated San-En NeoPhoenix (2-0) and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (2-1); defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings (2-1) in the B.LEAGUE Finals

2023-24 B.LEAGUE Statistic Leaders