Japanese champ Hiroshima rules EASL with epic escape act vs. Taoyuan

The Hiroshima Dragonflies averted a major collapse by making a pair of crucial baskets down the stretch to eke out a 72-68 against Taoyuan in the EASL 2024-2025 championship round on Sunday at the Studio City Event Center, Macau. 

Hiroshima, the reigning champion in the Japan B. League, wasted a 13-point lead early in the third period but American import Dwayne Evans and homegrown talent Ryu Watanabe saved the day as another Japanese club reigned supreme in the regional tournament after the Chiba Jets last year. 

Down by a solitary point with 1:18 left in the fourth, 67-68, the Dragonflies unleashed its pesky defense that stopped a potential basket for the Pauian Pilots and set the staged for an Evans layup off an inbound pass from Takuto Nakamura as they restored a 69-68 lead in the final 21.9 ticks. 

Taoyuan then ran out of the 24-second shot clock, which eventually led to a split freebie from Evans, 70-68. 

Watanabe, who was subbed in the last 10 seconds, delivered the game-winning steal and basket that sent Hiroshima to the EASL throne. 

Evans churned out 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one steal while Watanabe finished with only four markers but none bigger than the final layup that ultimately ended Taoyuan's title dream. 

Kerry Blackshear and Keijiro Mitani chipped in 13 and 10 markers apiece. 

The win saw Hiroshima continue its dominance over Taoyuan, which the Dragonflies defeated twice during their two group stage matches.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News