The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots are headed to the EASL Final Four 2025 Championship Game after defeating Japanese powerhouse Ryukyu Golden Kings on Friday, 71-64.

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Despite a determined, second-half comeback from Ryukyu — erasing a 44-28 deficit midway through the third quarter to pull within 58-57 early in the fourth — Taoyuan held firm. Lu Chun-Hsiang led the Pilots with 24 points, while Treveon Graham added 17. Ryukyu had four players in double figures, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

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Taoyuan now sets its sights on Sunday, March 9, where it will face another B.LEAGUE contender, the Hiroshima Dragonflies, for the league’s USD $1 million grand prize and the title of Asia’s best team.

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Postgame Triple 

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Ryukyu’s Scoring Woes 

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Ryukyu endured one of its worst shooting performances of the 2024-25 season. When the Golden Kings needed scoring the most, their offense struggled even further, going scoreless from the 5:46 mark of the fourth quarter until the game was already out of reach.

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Despite solid contributions from stars Jack Cooley and Ryuichi Kishimoto—who combined for 22 points—import addition Keve Aluma underwhelmed. Aluma, who entered the contest averaging 23.5 points per game, managed just 11 points on under 30% shooting, including a dismal 1-for-8 from beyond the arc.

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Taoyuan Stays Steady 

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Arguably the underdogs in this matchup, Taoyuan jumped out to an early lead. Led by Lu’s strong start, the Pilots went up 17-7 with 2:33 left in the first quarter.

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Ryukyu cut the deficit to 28-24 with 3:21 left in the second, but by halftime, Taoyuan had rebuilt a nine-point lead. The Pilots kept pushing in the third, extending their advantage to 44-28. Early in the fourth, though, the Golden Kings fought back and closed the gap to just one.

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Midway through the final period, Ryukyu briefly took the lead.

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That was the pattern all game—Taoyuan pulled ahead, and Ryukyu responded. But the Pilots stayed steady in the closing minutes, making sure that no matter how many times they lost the lead, they finished on top.

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Pilots Pour On 3’s 

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Taoyuan’s seven made three-pointers on the night weren’t a season-high. The Pilots hit double-digit threes on two separate occasions during the regular season. But by converting at a solid 38.9% clip, their outside shooting played a key role in securing a spot on Championship Day.

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Several of those threes came at crucial moments. When Ryukyu took a 60-58 lead with 5:46 remaining, Graham responded with a three from the top of the key to put Taoyuan back in front, 61-60. Earlier, with the game tied at 55, Alec Brown—who had struggled offensively most of the night—knocked down a three to give the Pilots a 58-55 lead.

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Then came the biggest shot of the night. With the shot clock winding down and a defender in his face, Brown buried a left-wing three with 50 seconds left to push Taoyuan’s lead to 67-60, sealing the win.

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Taoyuan isn’t a team that relies on the three, but when they find their rhythm from deep, they’re tough to stop. Ryukyu found that out the hard way.

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EASL Player of the Game: Lu Chun Hsiang — Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 

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A major reason Taoyuan is competing at EASL Final Four 2025 is Lu Chun-Hsiang. In a win-or-go-home Group A matchup against Hong Kong Eastern, with a postseason berth on the line, Lu delivered 33 points to earn Player of the Game honors and send the Pauian Pilots to Macau.

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Against Ryukyu, he picked up right where he left off, scoring 18 points by halftime. However, his momentum was halted in the second half after a hard fall with around 4:30 left in the third quarter, leaving him with a deep gash on his abdomen. At the time, Taoyuan led 46-34, but without Lu’s offensive presence, that lead quickly shrank.

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Lu eventually returned, and while he didn’t add much to the scoreboard in the second half, his early contributions had already made a difference. He finished with a game-high 24 points, four rebounds, and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

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Stat of the Game: 31.5%

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Yes, Taoyuan’s offensive firepower put pressure on Ryukyu’s defense, but the Golden Kings’ shooting struggles were at the heart of their issues on March 7. Ryukyu shot just 31.5% from the field, marking their worst shooting performance of the season.

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Beyond Aluma’s struggles, the Golden Kings’ offense appeared stagnant and predictable, relying heavily on starting point guard Ryuichi Kishimoto to create his own looks. Though Kishimoto reached double figures in scoring, he shot just 18.8% from the field, including a brutal 1-for-14 from three.

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Next Games: 

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Taoyuan Pauian Pilots:
Championship Game vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+)  — Mar. 9, 2025, in EASL Final Four 2025 at Studio City Macau

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New Taipei Kings: 

Third-Place Game vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings (B. LEAGUE) - Mar. 9, 2025, in EASL Final Four 2025 at Studio City Macau