Two of the PBA’s best teams will represent the Philippine flag in the regional meet.
The San Miguel Beermen and the TNT Tropang Giga arrived in Japan on Tuesday to represent the Philippines in the East Asia Super League Champions Week tourney. The two PBA squads will take on elite teams from the region’s most esteemed basketball leagues.
TNT senior consultant Chot Reyes, who’s coming off a tour of duty with Gilas Pilipinas, already expressed his excitement on Instagram, posting a story wherein his players are mulling over what to eat in the land of delicious gyoza and ramen.
Chris Ross meanwhile, went on his IG to give the fans of EASL a message.
“What up, EASL fans? We just landed in Japan, ready to get this week started. Hopefully it’s a fun week. We’ll just have a good time. I hope you guys have a good time watching us,” the Beermen’s veteran floor general said.
Here are some of the other things you need to know about SMB’s and TNT’s respective campaigns in the tournament.
TNT Tropang Giga’s opening game
TNT will face host team Utsunomiya Brex tonight at the Brex Arena. Tropang Giga is expected to have their hands full against the Japan B. League champion with two of their top guns hurting, RR Pogoy (bone bruise) and Mikey Williams (ankle). TNT’s two imports for the Champions Week, however, might just even the playing field.
TNT’s two imports
TNT’s reinforcements for the regional meet will be high-scoring wing Jalen Hudson and 6-foot-11 Daniel Ochefu who was once signed by the Washington Wizards. Tropang Giga’s current import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson isn’t able to suit up as he failed to secure his Japanese Visa in time. But hey, we’ve all seen what Hudson can do so everything should be just fine.
TNT’s bracket
Tropang Giga is in Group B along with Utsunomiya, Seoul SK Knights, and a familiar foe, the Bay Area Dragons.
SMB’s opening game
The Beermen will open up their EASL campaign against one of the Japan B. League’s best franchises in the Ryukyu Golden Kings. This match is especially interesting as the Golden Kings features three-time PBA Best Import awardee Allen Durham and highly touted Filipino big man Carl Tamayo.
SMB’s two imports
SMB will parade their import in the 2023 Governors’ Cup Cameron Clark. Helping out the reliable forward will be 6-foot-10 Jessie Govan who played four years of college basketball with the Georgetown Hoyas.
SMB’s bracket
The Beermen is in Group A together with Ryukyu, Taipei Fubon Braves, and Anyang KGC who features high-leaping Filipino import Rhenz Abando.
Aside from pride and honor, there’s a lot of money at stake. The top two teams to come out in Bracket A and Bracket B will duke it out in the finals for a grand prize worth $250,000. The losing finalist will take home $100,000. A battle for third place will also take place between the number 2 teams from both groups. The winner of that will take home $50,000.