Where: Studio City Event Center

When: Wednesday, March 18, 18:00 / 18:10 P.M. (On-air / Tip-off) CST

Team Records: Ryukyu Golden Kings (5-1, No. 1 in Group B) / Utsunomiya Brex (4-2, No. 1 in Group A)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information  

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TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Ryukyu Golden Kings 

Points: Vic Law — 15.3

Rebounds: Jack Cooley — 12

Assists: Ryuichi Kishimoto — 4.8 

Steals: Vic Law — 1.7 

Blocks: Alex Kirk, Damyean Dotson, Jack Cooley — 1.0 

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Utsunomiya Brex

Points: D.J. Newbill — 22.6 

Rebounds: Grant Jerrett — 9.5 

Assists: D.J. Newbill — 6.7 

Steals: D.J. Newbill — 1.9 

Blocks: Gavin Edwards — 0.6 

‍Note: Stats do not include Isaac Fotu, who was not included in Utsunomiya’s gameday roster.

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THE RUNDOWN 

It's an all-B.LEAGUE affair in the first EASL semifinal as the Ryukyu Golden Kings and Utsunomiya Brex go head-to-head on Friday for a spot in the Championship Game.

The matchup carries extra weight. In May 2025, the Brex defeated the Golden Kings in the B.LEAGUE Finals to claim their third championship in franchise history, the most of any team in league history. For Ryukyu, Friday is a chance at revenge, only with higher stakes. This time it's a place in the EASL Championship Game and a shot at being crowned the best in Asia.

Neither team has reached the EASL Championship Game before. Utsunomiya are in their first full EASL season, while Ryukyu made the postseason last year but were eliminated in back-to-back games. Both arrive with unfinished business.

What makes this even more intriguing is that the two sides haven't faced each other once in the B.LEAGUE this season since the campaign began in October. Friday will be their first meeting of the year, and it couldn't come at a bigger moment.

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THE GOLDEN KINGS

The Ryukyu Golden Kings are still searching for their first EASL postseason win, and they have a chance to get it in fitting fashion against the team that denied them a a 2024-25 B.LEAGUE championship.

A key storyline is the arrival of Vic Law. The Golden Kings' top scorer at just over 15 points per game, Law played sparingly in the EASL regular season and has never appeared in an EASL postseason game. That changes Friday, and he figures to be central to coach Dai Oketani's plans. Law has the pedigree for big moments though, coming off an All-Star appearance in January, and this is as big as it gets.

Defensively, Ryukyu's task is clear. Utsunomiya use their size — Gavin Edwards and Grant Jerrett setting screens and opening up lanes — to free their guards for clean looks. That's where Newbill creates and where Hiejima can get hot in a hurry.

Containing that system will be the Golden Kings' biggest challenge. The numbers make for an interesting contrast: Utsunomiya boast the highest scoring offense in the EASL at 93.2 points per game, while Ryukyu have conceded the fewest, allowing just 87.7. Something has to give.

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THE BREX 

The Brex arrive in the semifinals in form. Grant Jerrett was automatic against New Taipei, finishing with 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting, while D.J. Newbill put up 22 points and 12 assists in a performance that underlined why he is a two-time B.LEAGUE MVP.

One area that will be harder to replicate is the dominance on the boards. Utsunomiya outrebounded New Taipei 49-38, but Ryukyu present a very different challenge up front. Naturalized player Alex Kirk and Jack Cooley — the all-time leading rebounder in EASL history and just 13 rebounds away from becoming the first player to reach 200 — give the Golden Kings a formidable frontcourt that the Brex will not bully as easily.

For Utsunomiya, the defensive assignment is straightforward on paper. Contain Vic Law, limit Ryuichi Kishimoto, and don't let the game open up. That last point matters because the last time Ryukyu played an EASL game, it wasn't the stars who decided it. Ryo Sadohara and Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki combined for 33 points off the bench in a win-or-go-home game on February 11 to send the Golden Kings through to the Finals. If Utsunomiya's focus narrows too much on the headliners, Ryukyu have the depth to make them pay.