Everything You Need To Know About EASL’s 2024 Macau Classic

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, East Asia Super League’s Macau Classic — featuring an unmissable doubleheader — takes place in Macau at Studio City’s Event Center. 

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Beginning at 7:10 p.m. CST, the P. LEAGUE+’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots take on Korea’s Suwon KT Sonicboom before Macau’s first-ever professional basketball team, the Macau Black Bears, host Jeremy Lin and the New Taipei Kings. 

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This event also marks the midway point of EASL’s 2024-25 season, meaning both outings could carry significant implications for each participating team and the rest of the field as the race for Final Four berths intensifies.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the Macau Classic:

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Where To Get Tickets? 

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Tickets for the Macau Classic are now available for purchase at: 

‍https://www.studiocity-macau.com/en/offer/easl-clash-of-champions

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The link above is can also be found on Studio City’s official website under the ‘Entertainment’ tab for MOP 150. Each ticket grants access to both games. 

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Get To Know The Teams 

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Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 

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Through its first two EASL games this season, Taoyuan has captured consecutive 20-plus point victories and comfortably sits in the top half of Group A. Still yet to play a home contest, the Pauian Pilots are in prime position to reach the Final Four in its inaugural EASL season. 

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Taoyuan is led by dynamic import duo Treveon Graham and Alec Brown, who average a combined 54.5 points per game. Alongside the pair, star guard Lu Chun-Hsiang — the reigning P. LEAGUE+ MVP — offers a reliable outside shooting presence and recently knocked down five 3’s in the Pauian Pilots’ 101-85 blowout win over the San Miguel Beermen on Nov. 13. 

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Pitted against the Korean Basketball League’s Suwon KT Sonicboom on Dec. 11 — a team it beat 91-70 in a prior bout on Oct. 23 — Taoyuan enters Macau as heavy favorites. 

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Macau Black Bears 

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Halfway through the 2024-25 EASL season, Macau has impressed in Group B. Under first-year head coach Garrett Kelly, the Black Bears hold a 2-2 record and have clinched decisive wins against the New Taipei Kings and reigning KBL champions, the Busan KCC Egis. 

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Unlike most EASL teams in this year’s field, Macau utilizes a shallow six-man rotation. The team’s offense runs through 5-foot-8 floor general Damian Chong Qui but opts to score a considerable chunk of its points in the paint by way of 7-foot-6 center Samuel Deguara. Aside from the Black Bears’ starting five, Palestine international Jamal Mayali is a formidable shooter off the bench.

Macau’s matchup on Dec. 11 will be New Taipei — a side it beat handily in front of an away crowd on Oct. 23. If the Black Bears can complete a season sweep of the 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ champions, their dreams at a Final Four appearance may soon become reality. 

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Suwon KT Sonicboom 

Suwon KT arrives in Macau with a considerably banged-up roster due to its recent slew of injury woes. Although the Sonicboom likely return starting wing Moon Jeong Hyun and backup center Ha Yungi in time, they could be without star guard Heo Hoon after he was diagnosed with a fractured left thumb on Nov. 19. 

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However, there’s still promise for a KT team that sits in TK place in Group A at TK-TK. The Sonicboom signed former Michigan standout and Slovenian international Jordan Morgan on Nov. 18. Additionally, import forward Rayshaun Hammonds’ 39-point effort in a victory over San Miguel on Oct. 2 remains the EASL single-game season-high. 

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KT might not be at full strength come Dec. 11. But it has all the pieces necessary to shock Taoyuan and even the season series at 1-1. 

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New Taipei Kings

Boasting the biggest name in Asian basketball for a second straight EASL campaign, Jeremy Lin and New Taipei are scheduled to play in their first league game since Oct. 23, when it fell to the Macau Black Bears, 109-97. 

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But the Kings are an experienced group, returning the majority of its starters from last year’s championship-winning roster. New Taipei has also brought in Jason Washburn — the P. LEAGUE+’s defending Import Player of the Year — who notched an impressive 17 points on 64% shooting from the floor in his EASL debut. 

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It would be unfair to say a lackluster Kings’ performance led to its surprise loss to Macau on Oct. 23. However, it’s safe to state that EASL hasn’t seen the best of New Taipei — a 2023-24 Final Four side — yet. 

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Players To Watch 

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#69 Lu Chun-Hsiang (Taoyuan Pauian Pilots) — Guard, 6-foot-2

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 16 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4 assists 
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE Season Averages: 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ MVP 
• 2-time P. LEAGUE+ First-Team of the Year (2023, 2024)
• 2-time P. LEAGUE+ Defensive First-Team of the Year (2023, 2024) 
• 2022 P. LEAGUE+ Sixth-Man of the Year 
• 2022 P. LEAGUE+ Second-Team of the Year 
• 2021 SBL Rookie of the Year 
• Joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2021 
• Lu attended the Taichung National University of Science and Technology
• Lu is from Chinese Taipei 

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#1 Han Hui Won (Suwon KT Sonicboom) — Guard, 6-foot-4

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 11.5 points, 3 rebounds, 1.5 assists 
• 2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists 
• Joined the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2019 
• Previously played for the KBL’s Anyang KGC (2016-2018, 2019-20) and the Incheon Electroland Elephants (2015-16)
• Han went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft 
• Han is from South Korea  

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#2 Damian Chong Qui (Macau Black Bears) — Guard, 5-foot-8

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 23 points, 6.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists 
• Joined the Macau Black Bears in 2024
• 2020-21 All-NEC First Team 
• 2020-21 All-NEC Tournament Team
• 2020-21 NEC Assists Leader (5.3 apg) 
• 2020-21 NABC All-District First Team
• 2019-20 NEC Most Improved Player 
• 2019-20 All-NEC Third Team 
• Chong Qui attended college at Mount Saint Mary’s (2018-2021) and Purdue University Fort Wayne (2021-2023)
• Chong Qui is from Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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#7 Jeremy Lin (New Taipei Kings) — Guard, 6-foot-3

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ Champion 
• 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Assist Leader 
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2023 
• 2020 CBA All-Star with the Beijing Ducks 
• 2019 NBA Champion with the Toronto Raptors 
• ‘Linsanity’ — A two-week period in Feb. 2012 where Lin dazzled for the New York Knicks 
• Lin is the first player in NBA history to have at least 20 points and 7 assists in each of their first 5 starts
• Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft 
• 2-time First-Team All-Ivy League (2009, 2010) 
• 2008 Second-Team All-Ivy League 
• Lin attended Harvard University 
• Lin is from Torrance, California, USA