Where: Okinawa Arena

When: Wednesday, December 17, 7:30 P.M. 

Team Records: Ryukyu Golden Kings (1-1) / Macau Black Bears (0-3)

Where to Watch: Ticket Information / Broadcast Information 

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PROJECTED STARTERS 

Ryukyu Golden Kings

PG: Ryuichi Kishimoto — 176cm / 75kg

SG: Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki — 185cm / 90kg 

SF: Shota Onodera — 182cm / 82kg

PF: Vic Law — 201cm / 94kg 

C: Jack Cooley — 206cm / 115kg

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Macau Black Bears 

PG: Damian Chong Qui — 172cm / 70kg

SG: Phoenix Shackelford — 190cm / 86kg

SF: Lao Chong Pong — 191cm / N/A

PF: Omari Peek-Green  — 198cm / 99kg 

C: Samuel Deguara — 230cm / 130kg

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‍TEAM STATISTIC LEADERS 

Ryukyu Golden Kings

Points: Vic Law — 29.0 (5th in EASL)

Rebounds: Jack Cooley — 16.5 (2nd in EASL)

Assists: Ryuichi Kishimoto — 5.5 

Steals: Shuto Sakihama — 3,0 (2nd in EASL)

Blocks: Jack Cooley — 1.0 

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Macau Black Bears

Points: Damian Chongqui — 24.7

Rebounds: Samuel Deguara — 12.0

Assists: Damian Chongqui — 6.7

Steals: Phoenix Shackelford — 1.7 

Blocks: Samuel Deguara — 1.5 

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THE RUNDOWN 

The Ryukyu Golden Kings host the Macau Black Bears in a Group B showdown on Wednesday, December 17, at Okinawa Arena. Ryukyu enters the game having not played an EASL fixture since October 22, when it improved to 1-1 with an 81-72 home win over the Meralco Bolts.

For Macau, the situation is almost the opposite. The Black Bears are now playing their third consecutive game on the road – a long trip that began on December 6 in Ilagan City, Philippines, against Meralco, continued in Taoyuan against reigning EASL runners-up the Pauian Pilots, and now takes them to Okinawa to face the Golden Kings. Adding to the challenge, Macau sits at 0–3 on the season and 0–2 so far on this road swing.

If the Black Bears lose to Ryukyu, a resulting 0-4 record would mathematically eliminate them from postseason contention.

These two teams met last season at Studio City in Macau, where Ryukyu escaped with a 96-93 road victory in a thriller. In that game, Golden Kings import forward Jack Cooley exploded for 24 points and 19 rebounds to lead the four-time consecutive B.LEAGUE finalists to the win.

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THE GOLDEN KINGS

The Ryukyu Golden Kings enjoy a second straight home game as they host the Macau Black Bears in their second all-time meeting. 

Ryukyu comes into this contest at 1-1 in EASL play. The Golden Kings opened their 2025–26 campaign with a 94-80 loss to current Group B leaders Taoyuan Pauian Pilots at EASL Tip-Off 2025 on October 8, before bouncing back with an 81-72 home victory over the Meralco Bolts later that month. Domestically, Ryukyu sits fourth in the B.LEAGUE West Division with a 16-7 record.

Since their last EASL appearance, Ryukyu has made a key roster adjustment, adding import guard Damyean Dotson in place of Keve Aluma, who departed earlier this season for personal reasons. Dotson, the 44th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, has previously played for the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers and most recently suited up for the CBA’s Nanjing Monkey Kings. He is expected to make his EASL debut today and is averaging 11.4 points in 18 minutes per game in the B.LEAGUE.

RGK enters as a heavy favorite, with attention centered on the reliable core of Cooley, Vic Law and Ryuichi Kishimoto to set the tone. Milestone watches include Cooley, who is 29 points away from joining the EASL 200-point club, and naturalized center Alex Kirk, who needs just nine more rebounds to reach 100 career EASL boards.

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‍THE BLACK BEARS

Macau arrives on the final leg of its road trip in search of a vital win to stay in the postseason race. It has been a tough start to the season for the Black Bears, but they have kept games within reach even in defeat.

After dropping their season opener, Macau pushed the star-studded Meralco Bolts to a 93 to 91 loss, turning the ball over on a potential game-tying possession on December 6. Then, on December 14, the Black Bears looked poised to earn their first win after building a 26-point lead against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on the road. Taoyuan responded with a massive comeback, setting an EASL record for the largest comeback to win 104 to 86.

Damian Chongqui has been at the center of Macau’s attack, leading the team in both scoring and assists. Macau native Lao Chon Pong broke out in Taoyuan, scoring 17 points and hitting four 3 pointers in the first quarter alone. The Black Bears will also need a big night from 7-foot-6 center Samuel Deguara, who reached the 100 rebound mark in EASL in the last game.

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SPOTLIGHT STORYLINE 

WIN OR GO HOME 

A loss knocks Macau out of postseason contention. It is that simple.

The Black Bears must beat Ryukyu on the road to stay alive. At 0 3, a defeat would also make Macau the first team eliminated from postseason contention this season.

This is Macau’s second straight EASL season. In 2024 25, the Black Bears exceeded expectations by finishing 3 3, highlighted by wins over the then Jeremy Lin-led New Taipei Kings and the then reigning KBL champions, the Busan KCC Egis.

A win tonight would not only keep them alive but also add a new chapter to the club’s history by taking down a B LEAGUE powerhouse for the first time in franchise history.