“East Asia Super League – The Terrific 12,” co-organized by Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government and Asia League Limited (Asia league), held its semifinal stage today. In the first game, the Korean Basketball League (KBL)’s Seoul SK Knights trumped the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)’s Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in the last minute by one point. In the second game, the CBA’s Liaoning Flying Leopards coasted to victory over the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)’s San Miguel Beermen. The Seoul SK Knights and Liaoning Flying Leopards will advance to the finals, where they will compete for the 2019 The Terrific 12 championship.

At 5:00pm, the first game unfolded between the KBL’s Seoul SK Knights and the CBA’s powerhouse the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions. The game was fiercely contested, with the score line being tied multiple times. From the end of the first quarter, the point differential between the two sides held at five points or less. In the final moments, Zhejiang foreign import player Jalen Reynolds made a crucial error with 20 seconds left, losing the ball to Seoul’s Jameel Warney, whose slam dunk put Zhejiang at a one-point deficit of 76-77. Zhejiang competed with Seoul in every aspect, leading their opponents until 20 seconds left in the quarter. Hu Jinqiu excelled in this game, scoring 16 points but only three rebounds. Zhejiang’s foreign import players disappointed, with Aaron Jackson scoring 12 points and three assists, and Reynolds scoring only nine as well as giving Seoul a last-minute edge through his error. Li Jinglong sank four three-pointers, contributing all 12 of his points. However, Li missed his last-ditch shot to pull Zhejiang ahead in the game’s final moments. The Knights were propelled by the strength of their foreign imports, with Jameel Warney scoring 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Aaron Haynes contributing 16 points and 11 rebounds. An Youngjun was a standout for local players, with 10 points.

At 7:00pm, the second game saw the PBA’s San Miguel Beermen take the court against the CBA titans the Liaoning Flying Leopards. From the second quarter onwards, Liaoning controlled the game, ending with an overwhelming 111-89 victory over San Miguel. Liaoning has fought its way into the finals, and will face its final challenge—the Seoul SK Knights—for the championship. Liaoning’s foreign import player Lance Stephenson continued his streak from Liaoning’s two earlier games, putting up a devastating 35 points and 10 rebounds and bringing his three-game point total to 91 points. Salah Mejri also scored 21 points and 11 rebounds, while local player Gao Shiyan totaled 14 points and seven assists; and He Tianju scored 13 points and seven rebounds. On the Beermen, Terrence Romeo led with 19 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while Dezmine Wells contributed 16 points; Lester Prosper 15 points and seven rebounds; and Von Pessumal 11 points.

Tomorrow night at 7:00pm, Liaoning and Seoul will vie for the right to be crowned The Terrific 12 champions. Today’s defeated teams will meet at 5:00pm, as the San Miguel Beermen aim to claim third by taking down the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions.