EASL semifinalists ready and motivated for title battles

[Photo; Renato Marques

The East Asia Super League (EASL) 2026 is approaching its conclusion and will unveil this year’s winners.

At a press conference organized yesterday morning at Studio City, players and head coaches from the four semifinalists, including Utsunomiya Brex, Ryukyu Golden Kings, Alvark Tokyo, and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, shared their thoughts on the season and their expectations ahead of the final matches.

Sharing similar sentiments, all teams said they were ready and highly motivated to face the title matches, noting that participating in the EASL also allowed them to grow and learn more by adapting to different styles and teams from various leagues and countries.

To the media, Brex’s shooting guard Makoto Hiejima noted that the season has had many ups and downs, which ultimately benefited personal and team growth.

Brex’s coach Zico Coronel also added, when questioned about the upcoming semifinal match with the Golden Kings, that the match is unlike any other played previously, and that the team is not defending any title or previous win against the Golden Kings.

“We’re not defending anything. Everything that happened last year, good and bad, is behind us. Every team starts at the bottom, having to climb the whole mountain again,” Coronel said, adding, “We see this as a distinct game. It’s different, and it will be a massive challenge.”

In his turn, Golden King’s point guard Ryuichi Kishimoto said that the EASL is quite different from the Japanese league, noting that it is harder to play against international teams, which have playing styles different from those the team is used to in Japan. Still, Kishimoto said that it is valuable and enjoyable to play against teams from diverse backgrounds.

Golden King’s coach Dai Oketani remarked that, since last year, when the team also made it into the final four but lost back-to-back games, the team has evolved and gained cohesion.

He also said he believes that the level of basketball has been progressively increasing every year, and that he is happy the team has managed to adapt to that growth to remain among the finalists this year, adding that the team is ready and looking forward to the matches.

Talking about motivation and preparedness, Alvark Tokyo’s point guard Kai Toews said that despite the long season and several injuries along the way, “There is no need for us to even talk about motivation. This is a big opportunity for us, and we are ready to play tomorrow [today].”

Alvark’s head coach Dainius Adomaitis noted that the EASL is an opportunity for players to gain more and more diverse experiences.

“I think [EASL] gives my players huge experience by [allowing them to] play against different style teams, different coaches, and players. It’s easy to see how players grow during the season,” Adomaitis said, adding that the win is what everyone is always looking for.
“Trophies are good every time. That’s what we live for as coaches, that’s what we work and practice for as players. I think they’re really motivated and ready for this challenge.”

Looking for “revenge” from last year’s lost final, said to be Taoyuan Pauian Pilots’ Lu Chun-Hsiang, the Pilots are aiming for the gold. Last year, the team lost the final match to Japan’s Hiroshima Dragonflies (72-68). Despite the regrets over last year’s missed chance, Lu said the team is more united and stronger than ever and ready to play for the title.

On the same topic, Coach Iurgi Caminos justified the team’s repeated presence in the final four and its aim for the trophy, citing the team’s mentality of constant growth year after year.

“We are trying to learn from the mistakes we made in the past. We have lost finals, but we also learn from that and come back to win finals, as we did last year in our local league. We [keep] the same mentality of being humble but [at the same time] ambitious to do the maximum we can,” Caminos added.

At the opening of the press conference, EASL CEO Henry Kerins emphasized his enthusiasm for Macau as the home of the EASL Finals. Now in its second consecutive postseason, the EASL’s relationship with Macau dates back to when the league first brought its week-long tournaments there, before evolving into the 36-game regular season format it runs today.

“Macau has been part of our story from the very beginning,” Kerins said, adding, “What we’re building here is exactly the kind of integrated sports experience that puts Macau on the map for the right reasons. We believe the best is still to come.”

Echoing Kerins’ sentiment, senior vice president and general manager at Studio City Macau, Kevin Benning, noted Studio City’s commitment to welcoming back Asia’s premier basketball competition.

“Hosting the EASL Finals for a second consecutive year reinforces our commitment to supporting the positioning of Macau SAR as a global hub for elite sports,” he said, adding, “For us, this is about more than just hosting a tournament; it’s about bringing that ‘Fun Never Ends’ energy to life for fans across the region. We’ve created a world-class stage where elite athletics and the spirit of Macau converge, and we are ready for the world to see it.”

The semifinal round tips off today (Friday) with the Golden Kings taking on the Brex at 6 p.m., followed by Alvark facing the Pilots at 8:30 p.m. The two winners advance to the Finals, where on Sunday (March 22), this year’s champion and successor to the Dragonflies will be revealed.