December 9, 2024 — Studio City Event Centre, Macau SAR

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Storylines:

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1. Rematch in Macau

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The New Taipei Kings were upset on their home court by the Macau Black Bears on October 23, in a game where Macau’s shots fell left, right, and center.

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The Black Bears shot an impressive 57%, with Jeantal Cylla leading the way with a game-high 32 points on 67% shooting. Seven of the eight active Black Bears players hit the scoresheet against the reigning P. LEAGUE+ champions, culminating in a 109-97 victory.

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New Taipei cannot afford to lose another game to the Black Bears, as a sweep of the Group Stage series would give Macau the tiebreaker between the two teams.

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2. Black Bears lose stars

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The Macau Black Bears will play without two key players on Wednesday: leading scorer Jeantal Cylla and leading rebounder Will Artino, who both left the team in November.

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Cylla, a 28-year-old forward from the University of Arkansas, averaged 26.3 points in Macau’s first four games of this season’s EASL campaign. He was also named EASL Player of the Game when the Black Bears last faced the New Taipei Kings, scoring a game-high 32 points.

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Artino, a 32-year-old big man from Creighton University, averaged 14.3 rebounds and 18 points per game over four EASL contests. The naturalized Chinese Taipei forward was a crucial presence on the glass.

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With the departure of these two key contributors, much of the responsibility now falls on Damian Chong Qui, EASL’s November Player of the Month.

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3. Macau’s new additions

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Filling the void left by Cylla and Artino are Adonis Thomas and Johnny Wang.

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Thomas, a 6-foot-6 forward, is a former McDonald’s All-American and NBA D-League All-Star. He played college basketball at the University of Memphis, where current Macau Black Bears head coach Garrett Kelly previously worked. Thomas has NBA experience, having played for the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2013-14 season.

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Wang, a 6-foot-7 forward from Beijing, China, attended California State University, Fullerton, and was the first overall pick in the 2021 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Draft by the Fujian Sturgeons.

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The two new additions bring size to the Macau Black Bears roster, but whether they can replicate Cylla and Artino’s scoring and rebounding numbers remains to be seen.

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Read more about Thomas and Wang: HERE

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Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) Players to Watch:

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#23 Sam Deguara — Center, 7-foot-6

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• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 12.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• 2017 Malta Basketball League Champion with BUPA Luxol
• 2017 Malaysia Pro League Champion with Farmcochem
• 2009 FIBA Europe U-18 Championship Division C MVP with Malta
• 2017 TBL Best Center Award with PEA
• 2018 TBSL Champion with Mono Vampire
• 2018 European Champion for Small Countries MVP with Malta
• Joined the Macau Black Bears in 2024
• Deguara is from Pietà, Malta

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#7 Adonis Thomas — Forward, 6-foot-6

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• 2011 McDonald’s All-American
• 2011 First-Team Parade All-American
• 2013 NCAA Third-Team All-Conference USA with the University of Memphis
• 2014 NBA D-League All-Rookie First Team with the Springfield Armor
• 2015 NBA D-League All-Star with the Grand Rapids Drive
• 2015 All-NBA D-League Third Team with the Grand Rapids Drive
• 2022 Polish Supercup Champion with Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski
• 2023 European North Basketball League (ENBL) Champion with Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski
• Joined the Macau Black Bears in 2024
• Thomas attended college at the University of Memphis
• Thomas is from Memphis, Tennessee, USA

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#3 Damian Chong Qui — Point Guard, 5-foot-8

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• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 22.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds
• 2019-20 NEC Most Improved Player with Purdue University Fort Wayne
• 2019-20 NCAA All-NEC Third Team with Purdue University Fort Wayne
• 2020-21 NCAA All-NEC First Team with Purdue University Fort Wayne
• 2020-21 NCAA All-NEC Tournament Team with Purdue University Fort Wayne
• 2020-21 NCAA NABC All-District First Team
• Joined the Macau Black Bears in 2024
• Chong Qui attended college at Purdue University Fort Wayne
• Chong Qui is from Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+ — Chinese Taipei) Players to Watch:

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#31 Sani Sakakini, Forward, 6-feet-8

• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• 2x All-Jordanian League First Team with Al Riyadi Amman and Sarriyet Ramallah (2010, 2013)
• 2013 All-Jordanian League Center with Sarriyet Ramallah
• 2x Palestinian Basketball League Champion (2013, 2021)
• 2014 All-Chinese CBA Third Team with Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles
• 2015 Jordanian League Champion with Orthodox Club
• 2015 All-Asian Championships Second Team with Orthodox Club
• 2x All-Chinese CBA Honorable Mentions with Jiangsu Tongxi and Tianjin Ronggang (2016, 2017)
• 2022 All-T1 League First Team with Taichung Wagor Suns
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2024
• Sakakini is from Ramallah, Palestine

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#1 Joseph Lin, Guard, 6-foot-1

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• 2024-25 EASL Averages
  • 12.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds
• 3x P. LEAGUE+ Champion (Taipei Fubon Braves 2020-21, 2021-22; New Taipei Kings 2023-24)
• 2023 P. LEAGUE+ First Team
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ Second Team
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ Assist King
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2022
• Lin attended college at Hamilton College
• Lin is from Paolo Alto, California, USA

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#5 Chris Johnson, Forward, 6-foot-11

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• 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ Champion with Taipei Fubon Braves
• 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Finals MVP with Taipei Fubon Braves
• 2018 Croatian Cup Winner with Cedevita Zagreb
• 2011 LNB Champion with Leones de Santo Domingo
• 2022 NZNBL All-Star Five with Auckland Tuatara
• Johnson was NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA D-League First Team, All-NBA D-League Defensive First Team, and NBA D-League All Star in 2011 with the Dakota Wizards.
• Johnson spent time in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers (2010-12), Boston Celtics (2011-12), New Orleans Hornets (2012) and Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-13).
• Joined the New Taipei Kings in 2024
• Johnson attended college at Louisiana State University
• Johnson is from Washington D.C., USA

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Macau Black Bears By the Numbers:

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Team History

• Founded in 2017
• 2017-18 ASEAN Basketball League semifinalists

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2024-25 EASL Results

• 97-85 loss vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Oct. 2, 2024
• 109-97 win vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) — Oct. 23, 2024
• 96-93 loss vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Oct. 30, 2024
• 111-97 win vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Nov. 6, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Home vs. New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+) – Dec. 11, 2024
• Away vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) – Jan. 15, 2025

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Jeantal Cylla — 26.3 ppg
• Rebounds: Will Artino — 14.3 rpg
• Assists: Damian Chong Qui — 8.0 apg
• Steals: Will Artino — 2.0 spg
• Blocks: Will Artino — 1.5 bpg

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New Taipei Kings By the Numbers:

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Team History

• Founded in 2021
• 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Champions

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2024-25 EASL Results

• 109-97 loss vs. Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Oct. 23, 2024

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games

• Away vs. Macau Black Bears (Macau SAR) — Dec. 11, 2024
• Away vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 25, 2024
• Home vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 8, 2025
• Away vs. Busan KCC Egis (KBL) — Jan. 21, 2025
• Home vs. Meralco Bolts (PBA) — Feb. 12, 2025

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Kenny Manigault — 25.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Kenny Manigault — 11.0 rpg
• Assists: Kenny Manigault — 7.0 apg
• Steals: Kenny Manigault — 5.0 spg
• Blocks: Kenny Manigault — 1.0 bpg