What Happened: 

In EASL’s first-ever game in Mongolia, the Xac Broncos stayed perfect in Group C and improved to 2-0 after defeating the New Taipei Kings 90-76 on home soil.

The Broncos came out blazing, putting up 35 points in the first quarter, which is the most by any team in a single period this season. They hit six 3’s and shot 72.2% from the field in the opening frame. 

New Taipei slowly settled in and won both the second and third quarters, trimming the deficit to 12 heading into the final 10 minutes and giving themselves a chance to rally. The home side never let it get uncomfortable, though, keeping the Kings at arm’s length for the entire fourth quarter. 

Ian Miller poured in 40 points to lead the Broncos. Center Efe Odigie controlled the glass with a new single-game season high of 21 rebounds. For New Taipei, four players scored in double figures, led by Sani Sakakini, who finished with 24 points and became the latest player to reach 200 career EASL points.

The difference came down to shot-making. New Taipei, on the road for the second time in three days, shot 30.4 percent from the field. Xac finished at 44.8 percent.

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What It Means: 

It was a night of opposites. The Broncos became the first team to reach two wins, while the Kings became the first to fall to two losses. In Group C, the Kings entered the game in third at 1-1 after their Thursday win over LG, but dropped to the bottom at 1-2.

The Broncos are now the league’s only 2-0 team and stay on top of Group C.

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EASL Player of the Game: Ian Miller 

The star of the Broncos’ EASL-opening day win showed up again at M Bank Arena. Miller’s 40 points were the second-highest scoring total this season, and his eight 3s set a new EASL single-game high.

Given the ultimate green light in the Broncos’ offense, Miller kept coming off elevator screens, curling off the wing, and creating his own jumper for a bunch of those makes. It was a very efficient night, too. He shot 52.4 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from 3.

Postgame, Miller went back to the point he made at EASL Tip Off 2025 after the Broncos’ win on Oct. 8 over Alvark Tokyo. He said again that he wants to keep helping Mongolian basketball grow and put it on the map alongside the rest of Asia’s elite.

A performance like this definitely helps.

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Super Statistic: 21 

Efe Odigie’s 21 rebounds is not only the most by any player this season, it’s also one of the highest single-game totals in the past calendar year.

His work on the glass put him ahead of several 19 and 20-rebound outings from EASL regulars like Ryukyu’s Jack Cooley and Macau-now-Taoyuan big man Will Artino. The only mark that still tops Odigie is Akil Mitchell’s 22 rebounds for Meralco on Nov. 13, 2024 in a win over the KBL’s Busan KCC Egis.

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Up Next:

After two games in less than 48 hours, first in Korea and then in Mongolia, the New Taipei Kings finally get a break. They will not play EASL again until November 19, when they host the Changwon LG Sakers at Xinzhuang Gymnasium.

The Broncos are back much sooner. They will play their next EASL game in four days, hosting LG at M Bank Arena on Wednesday, November 5.