East Asia Super League (EASL) has enjoyed a successful year in 2024. From completing its first-ever home-and-away season and crowning its inaugural champion to expanding to 10 teams for the 2024-25 campaign, the league is steadily establishing itself as Asia’s premier basketball competition.

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With the new year approaching, EASL has entered the second half of its season, and the highly anticipated Final Four is set to tip off on March 7. But before looking ahead, let’s reflect on some of the top moments from 2024:

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1. March 10, 2024 — Chiba Jets, Yuki Togashi Capture Inaugural EASL Championship

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The B.LEAGUE’s Chiba Jets claimed the inaugural EASL Championship on March 10, defeating the KBL’s Seoul SK Knights 72-69 at Cebu’s Lapu-Lapu Hoops Dome. Finals MVP Yuki Togashi led Chiba with 24 points, while forwards John Mooney and Ira Brown added 16 and 12 points, respectively. Seoul’s Jameel Warney scored 22 but missed a potential game-tying 3 at the buzzer.

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Chiba’s flawless 8-0 campaign included an undefeated group stage, while the Knights (4-2 in Group B) reached the final by beating domestic rivals Anyang JKJ. Despite neither team qualifying for 2024-25, their efforts marked a memorable EASL debut.

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2. Dec. 18, 2024 — Heo Ung’s 14-0 4th Quarter Run Gives KCC Crazy Comeback Victory

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With just over three minutes remaining, Heo Ung and Busan KCC trailed their Group B opponents, the Meralco Bolts, 68-55. By the final buzzer, however, KCC had pulled off a miraculous comeback, securing a 72-68 victory — all thanks to a 14-0 run from their star guard, Heo.

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Heo drained four consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 68 before racing ahead on a fast break to score a transition layup, giving KCC the lead. His spectacular performance ranks among the greatest individual scoring feats in EASL history. Heo’s heroics not only broke the Egis’ three-game losing streak but also secured their first-ever league win.

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3. Nov. 6, 2024 — Damian Chong Qui Registers EASL’s 1st-Ever Triple-Double

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Damian Chong Qui began the 2024-25 EASL season relatively unknown. Today, he’s one of the league’s best guards and part of the reason is his historic achievement: notching the first-ever triple-double in EASL history.

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On Nov. 6, 2024, against the reigning Korean Basketball League (KBL) champions, the Busan KCC Egis, Chong Qui registered 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, leading the Macau Black Bears to a 111-97 victory. Standing at just 5-foot-8, the dynamic floor general has defied expectations and propelled his team to third place in Group B.

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4. Dec. 25, 2024 — Kishimoto’s Heroics Help Ryukyu Clinch Final Four Berth

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Ryuichi Kishimoto launched a high-arcing 3 from the left wing with six seconds remaining. His Ryukyu Golden Kings led the New Taipei Kings 77-74, and if the shot dropped, victory would all but be secured. That victory would also make Ryukyu the first team in the 2024-25 EASL season to clinch a Final Four berth.

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The ball hung on the rim before falling through, capping Kishimoto’s 20-point performance, which included six 3-pointers. Okinawa Arena erupted in celebration. For Kishimoto and Golden Kings fans, the joy was twofold: a year ago, Jeremy Lin’s dagger 3 sent New Taipei to the Final Four and ended Ryukyu’s run. This time, Kishimoto made things right. The Golden Kings remain undefeated at 4-0 and are headed to the Final Four in March.

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5. Jan. 10, 2024 — Jeremy Lin’s Dagger 3 Sends New Taipei To Final Four 

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Before Kishimoto and Ryukyu secured their postseason spot by defeating New Taipei on Christmas Day, Lin had done it first. On Jan. 10, with New Taipei leading 64-63 and just 28 seconds remaining, the former NBA standout launched a contested, long-distance 3-pointer, sinking the incredible shot. Despite the Kings finishing the game just 4-for-33 from beyond the arc, Lin delivered when it mattered most.

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After that, Ryukyu couldn’t find an answer, and New Taipei sealed the victory. The win secured a 2024 Final Four berth for the Kings in their inaugural EASL season, while Ryukyu was sent home with a 3-3 record.

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6. Cylla, Lin, Hollis-Jefferson Drench Flash Interviews 

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In 2024, EASL’s post-game interviews — conducted to highlight each game’s Player of the Game — occasionally turned into splash zones, most memorably involving Jeantal Cylla and Jeremy Lin.

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One such moment occurred during the 2023-24 season after a New Taipei Kings matchup against the PBA’s Meralco Bolts. Lin and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, former Brooklyn Nets teammates, reunited when Hollis-Jefferson, a member of the PBA’s TNT Tropang Giga, came to watch Lin play. The two decided to share the post-game interview, but before it could begin, Hollis-Jefferson surprised Lin with a playful water bottle shower.

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Fast forward to Oct. 23, and another post-game drenching stole the spotlight. After scoring 32 points in a 109-97 win over the New Taipei Kings, Cylla earned Player of the Game honors. His reward? A bottle of water poured over him in celebration.

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7. Oct. 2, 2024 — Fan Drains Half-court Shot at EASL Tip-Off 2024 

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EASL’s inaugural Tip-Off 2024 event had it all: four of Asia’s top teams in a thrilling doubleheader at one of the region’s premier venues, the Mall of Asia Arena. To make the event even more memorable, one lucky fan walked away with 100,000 Philippine Pesos.

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John Mendoza, from Laguna, Philippines, was one of three contestants randomly selected during halftime of Tip-Off’s Game 1 between the Suwon KT Sonicboom and the San Miguel Beermen. With thousands of eyes on him, Mendoza calmly sank a halfcourt shot, etching his name into league history.

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8. Dec. 11, 2024 — Jeremy Lin Gifts Fan Shoes After 2024 Macau Classic Win 

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Lin earned EASL Player of the Game honors after New Taipei’s dominant 114-95 win over the Macau Black Bears at the Macau Classic, posting 27 points, six assists, and seven rebounds. The victory marked the Kings' first EASL win of the season. But before heading to his post-game interview, Lin walked toward the crowd, holding his game-worn shoes, and gifted them to a stunned fan near the front row.

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“... EASL, for me, has been really special, because it feels like wherever I go, we have the home-court advantage,” Lin said postgame. “And we’re here in Macau today as the away team, but I honestly felt like the home team tonight. So thank you to all you fans who came out. I see all of the different jerseys you are wearing. I’m very grateful from the bottom of my heart.”

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9. Nov. 13, 2024 — Lu Chun-Hsiang Takes on English in Postgame Interview

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In another memorable postgame moment in 2024, Taoyuan Pauian Pilots star guard Lu Chun-Hsiang showed off his English skills after being named Player of the Game for his 25-point performance in a win over the San Miguel Beermen on Nov. 13.

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Although a translator was available, Lu chose to tackle English — not his native language — on his own. Despite stumbling a few times during the interview, Lu's courage paid off as he answered two questions before heading back to the locker room. Once the video hit social media, local fans embraced Lu's effort, and it quickly went viral, amassing 608,000 views and counting.

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10. Aug. 13, 2024 — EASL Expands To 10 Teams  

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On Aug. 13, 2024, EASL announced its expansion to 10 teams, up from eight in its inaugural 2023-24 season. Joining the league were the Macau Black Bears and Hong Kong Eastern, alongside two teams each from the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association), KBL (Korean Basketball League), B.LEAGUE (Japan), and P. LEAGUE+ (Chinese Taipei).

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The expansion has shown promise. Hong Kong Eastern holds a 1-3 record in Group A, while the Macau Black Bears, at 2-3 in Group B, play home games at the stunning Studio City Macau Event Center. Both teams have proven competitive and will return for the 2025-26 season, aiming to elevate basketball in the Greater Bay Area.

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