New Taipei Kings, Ryukyu Golden Kings battle for EASL 2025 podium finish

MACAU—The road to the EASL Final Four 2025 ended in heartbreak for both the New Taipei Kings and the Ryukyu Golden Kings.

Still, they have one final chance to salvage a podium finish as they face off in the battle for third place on Sunday, March 9 at the Studio City Event Center here.

New Taipei’s semifinal clash against the Hiroshima Dragonflies started as a tightly-contested affair, with the Jeremy Lin-led squad carrying a slim one-point lead into halftime.

However, the B.LEAGUE champion Dragonflies took control in the third quarter, outscoring New Taipei 28-19 to seize momentum. The Kings’ offense then collapsed in the final frame, managing just five points, allowing Hiroshima to pull away for an 81-65 victory.

[ALSO READ: Hiroshima’s second half surge fuels EASL Final Four 2025 victory over New Taipei]

On the other side, Ryukyu endured its own struggles against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of Taiwan.

A sluggish start saw the Golden Kings put up just 28 points in the first half, falling behind by as many as 16.

They mounted a furious rally in the fourth, trimming the deficit to one, but the Pilots responded with a 13-7 closing run, capped by an Alec Brown three-pointer in the final minute that sealed Ryukyu’s 66-59 defeat.

[ALSO READ: Taiwan's Taoyuan Pauian Pilots hold off Ryukyu Golden Kings to make 2025 EASL Finals]

This third-place matchup marks the fifth meeting between New Taipei and Ryukyu in the last two EASL seasons.

After splitting their series last year, the two squads once again found themselves battling in the same group stage this season.

Now, with pride and a podium finish on the line, both teams will look to end their EASL 2025 campaign on a winning note.

Will New Taipei bounce back from its offensive struggles, or will Ryukyu capitalize on its resilience to secure third place?

The stage is set for one final showdown in Macau later at 4:00 p.m.