the Dragons of Hong Kong, and the Korean Professional Basketball Association (KBL) on the 2nd . The 2023 East Asian Super League (EASL) Champions Week, in which Seoul SK and Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation, the 1st and 2nd place teams in the 2021-2022 season, represent Korea and compete against club teams from East Asian countries, will be held from the 1st to the 5th of next month in Utsunomiya and Okinawa, Japan. 스포츠토토
EASL, officially launched in 2021, is a competition to determine the strongest player in East Asia’s major professional basketball league. Teams representing each league, including SK and Ginseng Corporation, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, will participate. The winning prize is $250,000 (approximately 300 million won). The group stage will be held, and the first place in each group will face off for the champion spot in the final. SK was in Group A and Ginseng Corporation was in Group B.
SK will face Bay Area Dragons (Hong Kong) in Utsunomiya on the 2nd of next month and TNT Tropang Giga (Philippines) on the 4th of next month. Ginseng Corporation will play its first match against Pubon Braves (Taiwan) in Utsunomiya on the 1st of next month, and will go to Okinawa on the 4th to face San Miguel Beerman (Philippines).
It was a tight schedule during the league, but the managers of both SK and Ginseng Corporation did not care much. Jeon Hee-chul, SK coach, said, “Isn’t it going on behalf of KBL? If you don’t work hard, you can get hurt.” It is good news that Choi Jun-yong, who was recovering from a recent injury, will accompany him to this tournament. Ginseng Corporation coach Kim Sang-sik, the current league leader, pledged, “It is true that it is difficult and tiring, but in a way, I will do my best as it is a national competition.”
This event allows two foreign players to participate simultaneously. In KBL, only one foreign player is allowed to participate during the game. As such, tactical changes can be made in EASL, and the playing time between players can be more controlled. Director Jeon Hee-chul said, “I think Jameel Warney and Leon Williams’ chemistry would fit well. Warney has strong offensive power, and Williams works hard to get rebounds by running into the goal.”
In Ginseng Corporation, if Omari Spellman and Daryl Monroe agree, the ‘veteran’ Oh Se-geun’s break time can increase. However, coach Kim is also envisioning a ‘triple post’ of Spellman, Monroe, and Oh Se-geun, so he can show off new tactics. Director Kim said, “Since Oh Se-geun and Spellman have outside shots, I think we need to adjust them well. In Japan, we will take more running time from the Sixth Man.”