Taipei: The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots rallied from a staggering 26-point deficit to triumph over the Macau Black Bears with a final score of 104-86 on Sunday, marking the largest comeback in East Asia Super League (EASL) history. This remarkable victory on their home court signifies a 44-point turnaround, elevating the Pilots to a 3-1 standing in the 2025-26 EASL season.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Black Bears initially dominated the game, successfully hitting nine of their first 10 three-point attempts to secure a substantial 40-17 lead early in the second quarter. They extended their advantage to a game-high 51-25 following an Omari Peek-Green layup with just over six minutes remaining before halftime, maintaining a 65-45 lead at the break.
Demonstrating resilience, the Pilots, who finished as runners-up in the previous EASL season, outperformed Macau by 19 points in both the third and fourth quarters to clinch the win. The Black Bears’ performance faltered significantly in the third quarter, committing seven turnovers and shooting a dismal 3-16 from the field, including 2-9 from three-point range.
The Pilots exhibited remarkable discipline, committing only two turnovers during the entire second half. Center Alec Brown led all scorers with 27 points, including an impressive 13 points in the third quarter, and secured nine rebounds. Damian Chongqui led the Black Bears with 25 points and a game-high seven assists.
Acknowledging the challenge posed by Macau’s initial performance, Pilots head coach Iurgi Caminos praised his team’s defensive improvements and credited guards Pai Yao-cheng and Kuan Ta-you for limiting Chongqui’s effectiveness. Brown and shooting guard Lu Chun-hsiang were lauded for their crucial scoring contributions, with Lu leading all Taiwanese players on the Pilots with 26 points.
The victory positions the Pilots at the top of Group B, narrowly ahead of the Meralco Bolts, who hold a 3-2 record. The Pilots are set to face Huaqiao University in Fujian province, China, on January 4, 2026, for a rematch against Macau, before concluding group play against Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings in Okinawa on February 4.
Currently, Macau holds a 0-3 record, while the Golden Kings are at 1-1. The EASL, now in its third season, is an international competition featuring 12 teams independent of domestic leagues. It operates similarly to a Champions League for East Asian basketball, with top clubs from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, and Taiwan competing for a US$1 million championship prize over a 42-game schedule. The runners-up and third-place team receive US$500,000 and US$250,000, respectively.