Gin Kings, Dragons set for rematch in EASL group stage

Following the draw ceremony conducted in Hong Kong on Wednesday, Brgy. Ginebra will face the Bay Area Dragons in a rematch when it makes its debut in the East Asia Super League (EASL) in October.

The Gin Kings and the Dragons, who participated in last year’s thrilling PBA Finals, were placed in Group B with the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the Japan B.League and the Seoul SK Knights of the Korean Basketball League.

The crowd darlings defeated the guests in seven games in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, which was played earlier this year.

TNT Tropang Giga was slotted with Taipei Fubon Braves, Chiba Jets, and defending champion Anyang KGC in Group A.

The EASL will play Season 2 under its original home-and-away format after initially rejecting it in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Southeast Asia last year.

Under the revised format, each group’s four teams will face each other twice, once at home and once on the road.

The Gin Kings will host the Dragons in the country and then play them on the road, perhaps in Macau.

Brgy. Ginebra will also face the reigning B.League champion Ryukyu Golden Kings, featuring former Gilas stalwart Carl Tamayo, and the Seoul SK Knights, who just signed Juan Gomez De Liano to a three-year contract on Tuesday.

TNT will face reigning KBL champion Anyang KGC and Gilas training pool member Rhenz Abando, Chiba Jets, and P League + champion Taipei Fubon Braves.

The Tropang Giga lost both of their EASL Season 1 matches against Seoul SK Knights and Utsunomiya Brex in March.

At the conclusion of the eliminations, the top two teams in each group will advance to the Final Four in March of next year.

The draw, presided over by EASL co-founder and CEO Matt Beyer, was beamed live to all EASL stakeholders, including FIBA and league partner officials.