What Happened 
Hong Kong Eastern picked up its first EASL win of the season on Sunday, December 28, knocking off the Taipei Fubon Braves 103-93 at Southorn Stadium. The result also served as payback for Eastern’s earlier loss to Taipei in Chinese Taipei a few weeks ago, leveling the season series at 1-1.

Eastern set the tone right away with a strong first quarter, taking a 31-26 lead after one. They carried that momentum into the break, heading to halftime up 59-51, and then put the game in their control with a decisive third quarter. Eastern outscored the Braves 28-19 in the third, creating the separation they needed on the way to the 10-point victory. Eastern’s lead grew as large as 19, while Taipei never led by more than two at any point.

Cameron Clark led the way for Hong Kong with 24 points, while Jenning Leung added 19 and knocked down five triples on 5-for-10 shooting from deep. Eastern got balanced production across the lineup as all five starters finished in double figures, and Glen Yang delivered his best performance of the season with 12 points and nine assists in 30 minutes.

For Taipei Fubon, Troy Gillenwater paced the Braves with 26 points, Archie Goodwin scored 23, and Mouhamed Mbaye added 18, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.  

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What It Means 

Hong Kong Eastern secured its first EASL win of the season, but the victory does not change its position at the bottom of Group A. Eastern is now 1-2, tied with others for the fewest games played in the group, and still has three games remaining to push back into contention. Still, the win was significant in helping Eastern avoid an 0-3 start and keeping its postseason hopes alive.

For Taipei Fubon, the loss brings the Braves to 2-2 after completing their fourth game of the season, placing them at .500 and still in second place in the group. However, it also marked a second straight defeat, following their Christmas Eve loss to Seoul SK. With the playoff race tightening, the Braves will need to rediscover their form quickly to avoid slipping further as the group schedule continues to unfold.


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Player Of The Game: Jenning Leung 

Jenning Leung earned Player of the Game honors after a strong all-around performance in Hong Kong Eastern’s win, finishing with 19 points and three assists. He was efficient across the board, going 2-for-2 at the free throw line and knocking down five three pointers on 10 attempts.

It marked the first Player of the Game award of Leung’s EASL career, and it also extended a clear trend in Eastern’s rotation. This was his third straight start, another sign of the team’s growing reliance on his spacing, shot-making, and ability to punish defenses from the perimeter.

Even with five threes on the night, it was not his top long-range output of the season. In Eastern’s EASL opener against Seoul SK, Leung drilled seven three-pointers and poured in 21 points despite the loss. Against Taipei Fubon, he again showed why he is one of Eastern’s most dangerous shooters, hitting timely triples and remaining a constant perimeter threat that helped fuel the breakthrough win.

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Super Statistic: 5 

Balance defined Hong Kong Eastern’s win over the Taipei Fubon Braves, as all five starters scored in double figures for the first time this EASL season. Cameron Clark led the way with 24 points, followed by Jenning Leung with 19, Dominic Gilbert with 18, Alexandre Gavrilovic with 13, and Glenn Yang with 12, giving Eastern consistent production across the lineup from start to finish.

It marked the first time in the league’s 24 games so far this season that all five starters on one team reached double digits. The most recent instance of this feat occurred on February 12, 2025, when New Taipei achieved it in a double-overtime win, which required extra periods. The last time it happened in a regulation EASL game dates back to January 8, 2025, when Hiroshima defeated San Miguel. 

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Next Up

Next up, Hong Kong Eastern returns to action on January 7, staying at home at Southorn Stadium to face the Seoul SK Knights. It will be another key Group A matchup, especially with SK coming off a win over Taipei Fubon on Christmas Eve.

For the Taipei Fubon Braves, their next game does not come until January 28, when they head back on the road to take on Seoul at Jamsil Student Gymnasium. The Braves will be looking to respond and get payback for that same Christmas Eve defeat as the playoff race continues to tighten.