Nelson Asaytono headlines final 10 in PBA 50 Greatest list
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Hiroshima Dragonflies clinch EASL 2024-25 championship in Macau
The Hiroshima Dragonflies, reigning B. LEAGUE champions (2023-24), edged the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, P. LEAGUE+ champions (2023-24), with a 72-68 victory on Sunday night, March 9, to claim the EASL 2024-25 championship in Macau.
This marks the second consecutive season that a B. LEAGUE team has won the EASL title, following the Chiba Jets' triumph in 2023-24.
Photo Courtesy: EASL
Dwayne Evans was named both EASL Player of the Game and EASL Final Four MVP, averaging 19 points and 13.5 rebounds over the championship weekend.
In the Finals, Evans delivered an all-around performance with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks, leading the Dragonflies to victory.
Evans received ample support from Kerry Blackshear Jr., who contributed 13 markers, 15 boards, and six dimes, while Keijiro Mitani added 10 points.
On the opposing side, Taoyuan team captain Lu Chun-Hsiang spearheaded the Pilots’ offense with 20 points, while Trevor Graham and Pai Yao-Cheng added 16 and 11, respectively. However, Taoyuan’s 7-foot-1 import, Alec Brown, was held scoreless despite playing over 30 minutes.
The game featured 11 lead changes and three deadlocks, remaining fiercely contested from tip-off until the final moments. Ultimately, the Dragonflies secured the championship with a four-point cushion at the buzzer.
In the third-place game, the New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+ runners-up) overcame the Ryukyu Golden Kings (B. LEAGUE) with an 84-80 victory.
Jeremy Lin led New Taipei with 18 points, countering dominant performances from Alex Kirk and Keve Aluma, who combined for 52 markers.
Su Shih-Hsuan was named EASL Player of the Game after sinking a clutch right-corner three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining, giving New Taipei an 82-80 lead and sealing their win.
The Scores:
DRAGONFLIES 72 - Evans 18, Blackshear 13, Mitani 10, Nakamura 9, Kamisawa 8, Terashima 7, Watanabe 4, Kawata 3, Roberts 0, Yamazaki, 0.
PILOTS 68 - Lu 20, Graham 16, Pai 11, Kuan 7, Li 6, Dieng 4, C. Lin 4, Brown 0, Y. Chen 0, L. Chen 0.
Quarter Scores: 19-18, 35-29, 51-49, 72-68.
DRAGONFLIES 72 - Evans 18, Blackshear 13, Mitani 10, Nakamura 9, Kamisawa 8, Terashima 7, Watanabe 4, Kawata 3, Roberts 0, Yamazaki, 0.
PILOTS 68 - Lu 20, Graham 16, Pai 11, Kuan 7, Li 6, Dieng 4, C. Lin 4, Brown 0, Y. Chen 0, L. Chen 0.
Quarter Scores: 19-18, 35-29, 51-49, 72-68.
