LAPU-LAPU CITY – Yuki Togashi carried Chiba Jets to the 2023-24 East Asia Super League crown in beating Seoul SK Knights, 72-69, on Sunday night at the Hoops Dome.
Togashi scored 24 points and dished out seven assists in front of a packed house that mostly rooted for the Japanese national team star.
Togashi sinks insurance baskets
Chants of ‘MVP’ rang at the arena as Togashi sank two free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining for the three-point cushion. Jameel Warney missed on a three-pointer in the final possession of the game for the Knights.
Togashi was later adjudged as the Final Four MVP for his performance over the past two games.
Chiba Jets pocket $1M
With the victory, the Jets also won $1 million to go along with the title that they captured by sweeping all eight games of the season.
Togashi took over midway in the fourth quarter with back-to-back lay-ups for Chiba to retake the lead, 60-57. The 5-foot-6 guard also drained a three for a 63-62 lead and never looked back.
“It was a huge goal for our team,” said Chiba coach John Patrick on winning the EASL crown. “When we said we are going to play this, we said ‘Okay, we are gonna try to win this thing. We are gonna try to win the whole thing.’”
“It’s a bold statement but I think the players stuck to it,” said Patrick.
John Mooney had 16 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while Ira Brown added 12 points for the Jets.
It was a gallant fight for the Knights, who will finish second for the second straight time. They actually outscored the Jets, 20-14, in the third and was leading 54-51 entering the final canto.
Jameel Warney had 22 points and 17 rebounds, while An Youngjun added 18 points for the Knights, who still got $500,000 for the second-place finish.
The scores:
Chiba Jets 72—Togashi 24, Mooney 16, Brown 12, Cooks 6, Kanechika 5, Ogawa 5, Hara 4, Arao 0, Nishimura 0.
Seoul SK Knights 69—Warney 22, An 18, Williams 15, Oh 9, Chanyong 3, Choi 2, Heo 0, Yaung 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 37-34, 51-54, 72-69.
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