MACAU CLASSIC GAME NOTES: GROUP A — Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (2-0) vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (2-1)

December 11, 2024 — Studio City Event Center

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Storylines: 

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KT to play with one import 

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Suwon KT will compete with just one import player in its East Asia Super League (EASL) Macau Classic matchup against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots. The team initially had two imports, Rayshaun Hammonds and Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. However, Tilmon was later replaced by Jordan Morgan, who signed with KT on November 16.

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But during Suwon KT's Korean Basketball League (KBL) game against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis on Nov. 30, Morgan suffered a hamstring injury that will require an eight-week recovery period. As a result, Hammonds is now the team’s lone import player while KT continues its search for a replacement. The team will be undermanned heading into the game against Taoyuan.

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On Dec. 4, the Sonicboom faced their first EASL test with only one import player, hosting the reigning B.LEAGUE champions, the Hiroshima Dragonflies. Despite Hiroshima fielding two imports, KT pulled off an upset victory, thanks to standout performances from role players Park Ji-won and Park Jun-yong.

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The upcoming matchup against Taoyuan presents a tougher challenge, as their two key imports, Treveon Graham and Alec Brown, are among the best in the league. However, KT has already proven it can win without relying heavily on foreign players and will aim to do so again in Macau.

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Taoyuan eyes 3-0 start 

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At 2-0 and atop Group A, Taoyuan has excelled in the first half of the 2024-25 EASL season. The Pauian Pilots boast an average win margin of 18.5 points and play an impressive brand of team basketball, with their offense built around stars Treveon Graham, Alec Brown, and Lu Chun-Hsiang.

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On Dec. 11 in Macau, Taoyuan has the chance to improve to 3-0, potentially becoming only the third team in EASL history to remain undefeated through its first three games—and the first from the P. LEAGUE+. The Pauian Pilots would join the B.LEAGUE’s 2024-25 Ryukyu Golden Kings, who accomplished the feat on Dec. 4, and the 2023-24 Chiba Jets, last season’s EASL champions.

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So far, nothing can slow Taoyuan down. In addition to their offensive firepower, the Pauian Pilots excel defensively, most notably holding KT to just 70 points — an EASL season-low for a single game — during their first meeting on Oct. 23.

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Familiar Foes 

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Taoyuan wasn’t supposed to beat KT so convincingly on Oct. 23. In unfamiliar territory, the two teams battled closely until the fourth quarter, when the Pauian Pilots dominated defensively, holding the Sonicboom to just seven points in the final 10 minutes.

This rematch at the Macau Classic presents a different dynamic. KT is riding high after a win over Hiroshima on Dec. 4, while Taoyuan, still undefeated, hasn’t played since November 13 — just before the FIBA International Break.

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In their October matchup, Taoyuan’s dominance was evident in two key areas: assists (21 to KT’s 12) and 3-point shooting (35.7% to KT’s 20.6%). The Pauian Pilots excelled at ball movement and quick decision-making, while KT leaned heavily on star point guard Heo Hoon, as Hammonds struggled. Despite their poor shooting, KT stuck to a game plan centered on 3-pointers, to little success.

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KT isn’t a weak 3-point shooting team, as shown by their 35.7% accuracy in their last game. However, if they hope to avoid a season sweep and keep their Final Four ambitions alive, they’ll need to be at their absolute best against a Taoyuan squad that has shown few vulnerabilities. And of course, another late-game collapse would be inexcusable.

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Taoyuan Pauian Pilots Players To Watch: 

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#24 Treveon Graham — Forward, 6-foot-5 

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 28.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists 
• Joined the Pauian Pilots in 2024 
• Graham spent time in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets (2016-18), Brooklyn Nets (2018-19), Minnesota Timberwolves (2019-20) and Atlanta Hawks (2020)  
• Graham went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft 
• 2-time First-Team All-Atlantic 10 (2014, 2015) 
• 2013 Second Team All-Atlantic 10 
• 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP 
• Graham attended Virginia Commonwealth University (2011-2015) 
• Graham is from Washington D.C., USA 

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#12 Li Chia Kang — Guard, 6-foot-1

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Joined Taoyuan in 2021 
• 2018 University Basketball Association (UBA) Champion
• Li attended the National Sports University (TPE) 
• Li is from Chinese Taipei 

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#69 Lu Chun-Hsiang — Guard, 6-foot-3

• 2024-25 EASL Averages: 16 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists
• 2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Averages: 19 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 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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Suwon KT Sonicboom Players To Watch:

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#23 Park Jun Young — Forward, 6-foot-4 

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists
• 2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists 
• Park played for the Sangmu Basketball Team during his military service 
• Park played with Suwon KT before enlisting in the military
• Joined the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2018 
• Park was a 1st Round Pick in the 2018 KBL Draft
• Park attended Korea University 
• Park is from Incheon, South Korea

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#9 Park Ji-Won — Guard, 6-foot-2 

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists
• 2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists 
• Rejoined the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2024 
• Park played for the Sangmu Basketball Team during his military service
• Park played with Suwon KT before enlisting in the military
• Park was the 2nd Overall Pick in the 2020 KBL Draft 
• Park attended Yonsei University  
• Park is from Seongnam City, South Korea 

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#12 Moon Jeong Hyeon — Guard, 6-foot-3

• 2024-25 EASL Season Averages: 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists 
• 2024-25 KBL Season Averages: 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists 
• Competes for the South Korean National Team 
• Join the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2023 
• Moon was the 1st Overall Pick in the 2023 KBL Draft 
• 2022 U-League Tournament MVP 
• Moon attended Korea University 
• Moon is from Ulsan, South Korea 

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Taoyuan By The Numbers: 

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Team History

• Founded in 2020 
• The Pauian Pilots play in the Taoyuan Arena  

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Treveon Graham — 28.5 ppg
• Rebounds: Alec Brown — 9.0 rpg 
• Assists: Treveon Graham — 6.0 apg
• Steals: Lu Chun-Hsiang, Kuan Ta-You — 1.5 spg
• Blocks: Alec Brown — 1 bpg

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2024-25 EASL Results 

• 1st in Group A
• Group stage record: 2-0 
• Game 1: 91-70 win against Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Oct. 23, 2024
• Game 2: 101-85 win against San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Nov. 13, 2024

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2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Statistic Leaders

• Points: Julian Boyd — 21.2 ppg 
• Rebounds: Julian Boyd — 10.8 rpg
• Assists: Pai Yao-Cheng — 5.7 apg 
• Steals: Jarrod Jones — 4.0 spg 
• Blocks: Alec Brown — 2.5 bpg

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2024-25 P. LEAGUE+ Record 

• 1st in P. LEAGUE+ Standings 
• Record: 5-1 
• Latest Game: 123-94 win against Kaohsiung Steelers (P. LEAGUE+) — Dec. 7, 2024 

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Home vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Dec. 11, 2024 
• Home vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 25, 2024 
• Away vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 22, 2025 
• Home vs. Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) — Feb. 5, 2025 

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Suwon KT By The Numbers: 

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Team History

• Founded in 1997 
• 2010-11 KBL Regular Season Champions 
• 2022 KBL Cup Champions 

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Rayshuan Hammonds — 22.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Rayshaun Hammonds — 11.7 rpg
• Assists: Heo Hoon — 6.5 apg 
• Steals: Heo Hoon, Han Hui Won, Moon Seong Gon — 2 spg
• Blocks: Rayshaun Hammonds — 0.7 bpg

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2024-25 EASL Results 

• 2nd in Group A
• Group stage record: 2-1 
• Game 1: 87-81 win against San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Oct. 2, 2024
• Game 2: 91-70 loss against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) — Oct. 23, 2024
• Game 3: 80-78 win against Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 4, 2024

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2024-25 KBL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Rayshaun Hammonds — 19.2 ppg
• Rebounds: Rayshaun Hammonds — 11.0 rpg
• Assists: Heo Hoon — 8.0 apg 
• Steals: Park Ji-Won — 2.4 spg
• Blocks: Ha Yun Gi — 1.3 bpg 

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2024-25 KBL Record 

• 3rd in KBL Standings 
• Record: 10-6 
• Latest Game: 60-58 win against Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Dec. 8, 2024 

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Away vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) – Dec. 11, 2024
• Away vs. Hong Kong Eastern (HK) – Jan. 7, 2025
• Home vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) – Feb. 12, 2025