Knights out to ground Jets

CEBU, Philippines —It’s down to one game for all the marbles in the EASL’s inaugural home-and-away season. Unbeaten Chiba is determined to extend its win streak to eight but Seoul is just as focused to bag the championship that comes with a $1 million prize tag. The Jets and SK Knights face off in a blockbuster showdown at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City here tonight. In an earlier game, New Taipei engages Anyang in a playoff for third with $250,000 awaiting the winner.

Last Friday, the Final Four got underway with Seoul upending Anyang, 94-79 and Chiba repulsing New Taipei, 92-84, in a pair of humdingers. EASL CEO Henry Kerins welcomed an all-star cast of guests including FIBA Asia executive director Hagop Khajirian, PSC chairman Dicky Bachmann, Phoenix PBA owner Dennis Uy, SBP executive director Erika Dy, Australian national coach Brian Goorjian, former NBA forward and once the highest-paid player in Europe Josh Childress and PBA veterans Ramon Fernandez, Yoyong Martirez, Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, Jay Washington, Sol Mercado and Lamont Waters. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard (Ahong) Chan rolled out the red carpet for the visitors.

The Final Four contenders didn’t disappoint the big crowd that showed up for Friday’s knockout semifinals. The Knights battled through 16 lead changes and five deadlocks to turn back Anyang. The Red Boosters beat Seoul in the EASL Champions Week final last year so this was sweet revenge. Seoul coach Chul Hee Chun hardly missed star guard Kim Sun Hyung as Jae Hyun Oh filled in the vacuum to score 20 points. Throughout the EASL season, the Knights stuck with imports Leon Williams and Jameel Warney and their familiarity with Chul’s system was evident down the stretch.

Anyang rotated Du’Vaughn Maxwell, Darryl Monroe and Omari Spellman before settling on Robert Carter and Jamil Wilson as the pair to go to war with. Warney erupted for 38 points while Williams keyed Seoul’s 44-25 rebounding advantage. Rhenz Abando came off the bench to hit 11 points in a gallant stand for the Red Boosters.

The Jets were pushed to the limit by the Kings and in the fourth quarter, Joseph Lin and Yuki Togashi regaled the crowd with a blistering shootout. Lin finished with 21 points, including five triples while Togashi had 28, including six threes. Lin’s celebrated brother Jeremy sat out the action with an ankle sprain. The nine-year NBA veteran isn’t dismissing an appearance against Anyang today and asked if he’ll play, Lin said, “we’ll see.” The contest featured 27 lead changes and seven ties.

Chiba is the league’s No. 1 offensive team and Seoul is the No. 1 defensive squad so the duel is a classic confrontation. The Jets are averaging over 90 points while the Knights are giving up less than 80 an outing. In disposing of Anyang, Seoul displayed frightening ferocity on both ends. Warney is a handful and it’ll take a monumental effort from the Jets to hold him down. Chiba had some shaky moments against New Taipei and committed 18 turnovers. But Togashi, Xavier Cooks and John Mooney scored at least 20 apiece to torch the Kings.

It’ll be a Cinderella finish for Chiba if the Jets bag the crown with an unblemished record. But Seoul is a stumbling block. The Knights in red armor are a feisty brigade, play physical and shoot the lights out. Chiba coach John Patrick has his work cut out. Togashi will need another magical performance to send the Jets to the throne.