GAME NOTES: GROUP A — Hong Kong Eastern (0-1) vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (1-0)

October 30, 2024 — Southorn Stadium, Hong Kong SAR

Storylines:

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1. Round 2 

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Hong Kong Eastern and the Hiroshima Dragonflies will be facing off for the second time in three weeks. The two matched up on Oct. 16 where we saw Hiroshima defeat Hong Kong 78-67 at home.

This time, it will be played in Hong Kong’s Southorn Stadium, where Eastern has succeeded in their domestic league, going 2-0 at Southorn and 3-0 overall.

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This will be Eastern’s first EASL home game in franchise history, and with their fans behind them, the Dragonflies will be in for a tough game in a rematch against Eastern on Wednesday.

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2. Kerry Blackshear Jr.’s Dominance 

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While Eastern may have home-court advantage this week, they still need to find a way to stop Dragonflies’ import of Kerry Blackshear Jr., who won EASL Player of the Game last time they met.

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Blackshear had a massive all-around game the first time around, recording 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. The American also had 2 blocks and a steal on the defensive end.

Blackshear had been consistent in the B.LEAGUE as well, averaging 17.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 8 games this season for the Dragonflies.

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His contributions will be key in helping Hiroshima get their second win against Hong Kong on Wednesday.

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3. Hiroshima’s Domestic Slump

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While Hiroshima has gone on the right foot in the East Asia Super League, it can’t be said domestically, as the defending B.LEAGUE champions have started the season with a poor 2-7 record.

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The team has been suffering from a lot of injuries, with key import Dwayne Evans missing 5 of the team’s 9 games, and Japan international Ryo Terashima having yet to play a game this season.

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Hiroshima also has a -103 point differential in the B.LEAGUE, which is second-worst in the league.

However, since their first win across all competitions against Hong Kong Eastern on Oct. 16, the Dragonflies found their first two wins domestically. Will another win against Eastern help Hiroshima find their confidence in Japan?

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Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) Players to Watch:

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#5 Kobey Lam — Guard, 6-foot-3

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 5.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Joined the Hong Kong Eastern in 2024
• Lam attended college at University of Denver
• Lam is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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#11 Glen Yang — Guard, 6-foot-4

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Joined the Hong Kong Eastern in 2024
• Yang attended college at Mount Royal University
• Yang is from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

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#21 Cameron Clark — Forward, 6-foot-7

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 24.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• 2017 LNB Pro A Champion with Élan Chalon
• 2017 All-LNB Pro A First Team with Élan Chalon
• 2017 LNB Pro A Scoring Champion with Élan Chalon
• 2017 LNB Pro A All-Star with Élan Chalon
• 2017 All-FIBA Europe Cup First Team with Élan Chalon
• 2017 FIBA Europe Cup Scoring Champion with Élan Chalon
• Joined the Hong Kong Eastern in 2024
• Clark attended college at the University of Oklahoma
• Clark is from Phoenix, Arizona, USA

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

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#10 Toshiki Kamisawa — Guard, 5-foot-8

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 8.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
• 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
  • 5.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• 2024 B.LEAGUE Champion with Hiroshima Dragonflies
• Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2022
• Kamisawa attended college at Nihon University
• Kamisawa is from Toyama, Japan

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#1 Masato Ichikawa — Forward, 6-foot-7 

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 11.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 3.0 3-pointers
• 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
  • 0.9 points, 66% 3-point
• Japan National Team (2022 Hangzhou Asian Games)
• Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2024
• Ichikawa attended college at Hakuoh University
• Ichikawa is from Shizuoka, Japan

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#24 Nick Mayo — Forward, 6-foot-7

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Averages
  • 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
• 2024 B.LEAGUE Champion with Hiroshima Dragonflies
• 4x NCAA First-Team All-OVC with University of Eastern Kentucky
• 2016 NCAA OVC Freshman of the Year with University of Eastern Kentucky
• Joined the Hiroshima Dragonflies in 2021
• Mayo attended college at the University of Eastern Kentucky
• Mayo is from Oakland, Maine, USA

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Hong Kong Eastern By The Numbers:

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Team History

• Founded in 1932
• 2x HKBA A1 Division Champions (2018, 2023-24)
• 2x ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Champions (2016-17, 2023)

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2024-25 EASL Results

• 78-67 loss against Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Oct. 16, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Home vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Oct. 30, 2024
• Home vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Dec. 18, 2024
• Home vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Jan. 7, 2025
• Away vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Jan. 15, 2025
• Away vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) — Feb. 5, 2025

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Cameron Clark - 24.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Chris McLaughlin - 12.0 rpg
• Assists: Glen Yang & Cameron Clark - 2.0 apg
• Steals: Chris McLaughlin - 3.0 spg
• Blocks: Cameron Clark - 1.0 bpg

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Hiroshima Dragonflies By The Numbers:

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Team History 

• Founded in 2013
• 2023-24 B.LEAGUE Champions

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2024-25 EASL Results

• 78-67 win against Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong SAR) — Oct. 16, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• 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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2024-2025 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 17.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 11.0 rpg
• Assists: Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 5.0 apg
• Steals: Kaine Roberts - 3.0 spg
• Blocks: Nick Mayo & Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 1.0 bpg

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2024-2025 B.LEAGUE Statistic Leaders

• Points: Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 16.9 ppg
• Rebounds: Dwayne Evans - 7.6 rpg
• Assists: Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 3.4 apg
• Steals: Kerry Blackshear Jr. - 1.0 spg
• Blocks: Dwayne Evans - 1.0 bpg