2023 EASL Champions Week

2023 EASL Champions Week

Tournament details
Country	Japan
Dates	1–5 March 2023
Season	2023
Teams	8
Final positions
Champions	Anyang KGC
Runner-up	Seoul SK Knights
Third place	Bay Area Dragons
Fourth place	Ryukyu Golden Kings
Tournament statistics
Best player	Omari Spellman (Anyang) [1]
←  2019 (pre-season tournaments era) 2023–24  →

The 2023 EASL Champions Week was the first regular season of the East Asia Super League, an international basketball club competition involving teams from domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Taiwan, as well as a franchise team representing Greater China. ^{[2] [3]} The Champions Week was held from 1 to 5 March 2023. ^[4]

The Champions Week was conceptualized after the regular season was postponed. The regular season was originally scheduled to be held from 12 October 2022 to February 2023, under a home and away format and a Final Four knockout stage. ^[5]

The winners received USD 250,000, while the runners-up and third-place teams received USD 100,000 and USD 50,000, respectively. ^{[6] [7]}

Originally held as a preseason tournament, it was retroactively designated as the first season by its organizers with the succeeding league tournament as the second season. ^[8]

Team allocation

The eight teams which qualified for the then-2022–23 EASL season qualified for the Champions Week. ^[9] Four leagues are represented for the 2023 EASL. The champions and runners-up of the Japan B.League and the Korean Basketball League ^[10] as well as the champions of Taiwan's P. League+ ^[11] Hong Kong based Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes, a franchise team not part of any domestic league also participated. The league considers the P. League+ champions and the Phoenixes as representatives of "Greater China". ^[5] For the Philippines, the top two finishing teams of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup qualified. ^[12]

League	Country or region	Berths
EASL (franchise team)	Hong Kong	1
P. League+	Chinese Taipei [lower-alpha 1]	1
B.League	Japan	2
Korean Basketball League	South Korea	2
Philippine Basketball Association	Philippines	2

Qualified teams

Team	Domestic league standing
Bay Area Dragons	N/A (EASL franchise)
Taipei Fubon Braves	2021–22 P. League+ champions
Utsunomiya Brex	2021–22 B.League champions
Ryukyu Golden Kings	2021–22 B.League runners-up
Seoul SK Knights	2021–22 Korean Basketball League champions
Anyang KGC	2021–22 Korean Basketball League runners-up
San Miguel Beermen	2022 PBA Philippine Cup champions
TNT Tropang Giga	2022 PBA Philippine Cup runners-up

Imports

Each team can select two foreigners into active roster in each game, ^[13] plus an Asian heritage import or naturalized player. ^[14]

Team	Foreigner			Heritage player
Bay Area Dragons	Andrew Nicholson	Myles Powell	—	Sedrick Barefield
Taipei Fubon Braves	Ihor Zaytsev	Mike Singletary	Chris Johnson	—
Utsunomiya Brex	Grant Jerrett	Josh Scott	—	Yang Jae-min
Ryukyu Golden Kings	Allen Durham	Jack Cooley	—	Carl Tamayo
Seoul SK Knights	Leon Williams	Jameel Warney	—	—
Anyang KGC	Omari Spellman	Darryl Monroe	—	Rhenz Abando
San Miguel Beermen	Cameron Clark	Jessie Govan	—	—
TNT Tropang Giga	Jalen Hudson	Daniel Ochefu	—	—

Venues

Games were held in Japan, on the home venues of the two qualified Japanese teams – Utsunomiya Brex and the Ryukyu Golden Kings. There were ten games in total. Utsunomiya hosted six of the eight group stage games, while Ryukyu hosted the remaining two games, as well as the third place game and final. ^{[15] [16]}

Okinawa City	Utsunomiya	Okinawa Nikkan 2023 EASL Champions Week (Japan)
Okinawa Arena	Nikkan Arena Tochigi
Capacity: 10,000	Capacity: 5,000

Draw

The official draw for the 2022–23 EASL season was held on 28 June 2022 at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila in Taguig. ^{[17] [18]} For the Champions Week the groupings were retained. ^[9]

The teams were drawn in two groups. A coin flipping mechanic was used; each champion in each domestic league was to choose a coin side. The winner of the coin flip was placed on Group A while the other placed in Group B. ^{[12] [19]} The identity of the Philippine representatives were yet to be determined at the time of the draw.

Another draw was held to determine the schedule of the games. ^[9]

Group stage

On 10 January 2023, EASL released the full schedule for the tournament. ^[20] Each team in each of the two groups would face only two of three of the other teams in their group unlike in a traditional round robin format. ^[21]

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Anyang KGC	2	2	0	236	156	+80	4 [lower-alpha 2]	Final
2	Ryukyu Golden Kings	2	2	0	179	146	+33	4 [lower-alpha 2]	Third place game
3	Taipei Fubon Braves	2	0	2	147	177	−30	2
4	San Miguel Beermen	2	0	2	155	238	−83	2

Source: EASL
Notes:

1. Taiwan, officially Republic of China. The organizers of the EASL ^[5] and FIBA uses the designation of "Chinese Taipei".
2. Anyang KGC +80 PD, Ryukyu Golden Kings +33 PD. ^[22]

1 March 2023 17:00

Box score

Taipei Fubon Braves	69–94	Anyang KGC
Scoring by quarter: 19–24, 17–25, 21–22, 12–23
Pts: Zaytsev 20 Rebs: Singletary 15 Asts: Singletary 6		Pts: Spellman 22 Rebs: Monroe 25 Asts: Monroe 7

Nikkan Arena Tochigi, Utsunomiya

2 March 2023 19:30

Box score

Ryukyu Golden Kings	96–68	San Miguel Beermen
Scoring by quarter:24–17, 25–11, 21–20, 26–20
Pts: Cooley, Imamura 20 Rebs: Cooley, Durham 16 Asts: Durham 7		Pts: Clark 25 Rebs: Tautuaa 10 Asts: Enciso 6

Nikkan Arena Tochigi, Utsunomiya

4 March 2023 16:00

Box score

Anyang KGC	142–87	San Miguel Beermen
Scoring by quarter:40–20, 29–16, 40–29, 33–22
Pts: Spellman 53 Rebs: Monroe 17 Asts: Monroe 14		Pts: Clark 35 Rebs: Clark 10 Asts: Perez 5

Okinawa Arena, Okinawa City

4 March 2023 19:00

Box score

Ryukyu Golden Kings	83–78	Taipei Fubon Braves
Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 25–25, 23–8, 15–25
Pts: Cooley 24 Rebs: Cooley 13 Asts: Kishimoto 7		Pts: Johnson 28 Rebs: Johnson 9 Asts: Chou, Zaytsev 4

Okinawa Arena, Okinawa City

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Seoul SK Knights	2	2	0	172	153	+19	4	Final
2	Bay Area Dragons	2	1	1	180	182	−2	3 [lower-alpha 1]	Third place game
3	Utsunomiya Brex	2	1	1	189	162	+27	3 [lower-alpha 1]
4	TNT Tropang Giga	2	0	2	135	179	−44	2

Source: EASL
Notes:

1. Bay Area Dragons 1–0 Utsunomiya Brex ^[23]

1 March 2023 19:30

Box score

Utsunomiya Brex	99–66	TNT Tropang Giga
Scoring by quarter: 25–26, 32–8, 22–21, 20–11
Pts: Scott 24 Rebs: Scott 14 Asts: Hiejima 6		Pts: Hudson 28 Rebs: Ochefu 9 Asts: Oftana 3

Nikkan Arena Tochigi, Utsunomiya

2 March 2023 17:00

Box score

Seoul SK Knights	92–84	Bay Area Dragons
Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 24–27, 22–20, 28–17
Pts: Warney 30 Rebs: Warney 19 Asts: Kim, Warney 7		Pts: Nicholson 35 Rebs: Nicholson 15 Asts: Powell 8

Nikkan Arena Tochigi, Utsunomiya

3 March 2023 17:00

Box score

TNT Tropang Giga	69–80	Seoul SK Knights
Scoring by quarter:28–25, 14–16, 13–16, 14–23
Pts: Oftana 16 Rebs: Ochefu 12 Asts: M. Williams 4		Pts: Kim, Warney 21 Rebs: Williams 21 Asts: Warney 11

Nikkan Arena Tochigi, Utsunomiya

3 March 2023 19:30

Box score

Utsunomiya Brex	90–96	Bay Area Dragons
Scoring by quarter: 17–23, 32–24, 16–26, 25–23
Pts: Jerrett 22 Rebs: Scott 12 Asts: Hiejima 7		Pts: Nicholson 26 Rebs: Nicholson 12 Asts: Powell 10

Nikkan Arena Tochigi, Utsunomiya

Final round

Third place game

5 March 2023 16:00

Box score

Ryukyu Golden Kings	70–90	Bay Area Dragons
Scoring by quarter: 14–16, 14–28, 23–30, 19–16
Pts: Durham 19 Rebs: Watanabe 8 Asts: Flippin 5		Pts: Powell 29 Rebs: Nicholson 8 Asts: Yang 5

Okinawa Arena, Okinawa City

Final

5 March 2023 19:00

Box score

Anyang KGC	90–84	Seoul SK Knights
Scoring by quarter: 25–27, 24–10, 17–24, 24–23
Pts: Monroe 21 Rebs: Monroe 16 Asts: Byeon, Monroe 5		Pts: Kim 25 Rebs: Williams 10 Asts: Kim, Oh 6

Okinawa Arena, Okinawa City

Final standing

Rank	Team	Record
	Anyang KGC	3–0
	Seoul SK Knights	2–1
	Bay Area Dragons	2–1
4	Ryukyu Golden Kings	2–1
Eliminated at group stage
5–8	Utsunomiya Brex	1–1
	Taipei Fubon Braves	0–2
	TNT Tropang Giga	0–2
	San Miguel Beermen	0–2

References

1. Odeven, Ed (5 March 2023). "Anyang Tops Seoul to End EASL Champions Week on a High Note | SportsLook". SportsLook. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
2. "EASL 2022–2023 Season". East Asia Super League. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
3. Naredo, Camille (2 December 2021). "PBA wants to prove it is best in Asia through EASL". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
4. Ulanday, John Bryan (8 December 2022). "EASL tuloy na sa Marso sa Japan" [EASL resumes in March in Japan]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philippine Star. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
5. "East Asia Super League Debuts Season 1 of Premier Home-and-Away Pan-Regional League in 2022". East Asia Super League. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022. The newly formed Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes and the championship team from Chinese Taipei's P.LEAGUE+, are the Greater China representatives.
6. "East Asia Super League Announces Broadcast and Streaming Partners for EASL Champions Week | EASL". East Asia Super League. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
7. Dalupang, Denison Rey A. (1 March 2023). "All you need to know about the EASL Champion's Week". INQUIRER. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
8. "East Asia Super League to return with new format for second season". Korea JoongAng Daily . 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
9. "EASL secures US$40m to fund expansion, CEO Bayer talks up 'bullish' outlook". South China Morning Post. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
10. "Super League shakes up Asian hoops". China Daily. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
11. "P.League+ winner to play in East Asian tournament – Taipei Times". Taipei Times. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
12. Henson, Joaquin (16 June 2022). "EASL draw set in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
13. 吳孟儒 (2 March 2023). "東超「改款」冠軍週 賽程縮水不減料". 自由時報 . Retrieved 8 November 2023. 此外，每支隊伍每場可登錄2名洋將，另開放亞洲外援，至於洋將之外的華裔球員、外籍生都算是本土球員。
14. Henson, Joaquin M. (17 February 2023). "Gearing up for EASL". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
15. "EASL Champions Week to be held in Japan". The Manila Times. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
16. Odeven, Ed (28 February 2023). "EASL Champions Week Set to Tip Off in Utsunomiya". Japan Forward . Retrieved 2 March 2023.
17. "EASL sets June 28 draw in Manila". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
18. "East Asia Super League unveils group draw for debut season". South China Morning Post. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
19. Giongco, Mark (28 June 2022). "PBA Philippine Cup champion grouped with Taipei, Anyang, Ryukyu". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
20. "East Asia Super League Reveals EASL Champions Week Matchups and Game Schedule". East Asia Super League . 10 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
21. "KGC, SK Knights jet off to Japan for EASL Champions Week". Korea JoongAngDaily. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
22. Terrado, Reuben. "Carl Tamayo scores 13 in home debut as Ryukyu sweeps EASL group games". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 4 March 2023. Despite ending up undefeated, however, Ryukyu was relegated to the battle for third place due to a lower point differential with Anyang KGC.
23. Terrado, Reuben (3 March 2023). "Bay Area Dragons beat Brex to book spot in EASL third-place playoff". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 3 March 2023. The Dragons ended up in a tie with the Brex, but they advanced to the battle-for-third due to the winner-over-the-other tiebreak rule.