LAPU-LAPU CITY – No ‘Linsanity’ took this city by storm on Friday night, but fans were swept by a showing as phenomenal as what Yuki Togashi put on.
The seasoned internationalist stole the spotlight with much of the attention drawn to the sidelined Jeremy Lin, firing 28 points to power Chiba to a 92-84 win over New Taipei to reach the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final.
Many were looking forward to seeing the former NBA veteran in action, including Togashi and the Jets, but he was out due to a foot injury.
The game’s star power may have taken quite a hit but both squads superseded that big of an absence, with New Taipei leaning on Jeremy’s younger brother Joseph in giving the undefeated B.League a major scare all night.
(C) Mags Reyes/EASL
The lefty guard waxed hot from deep with five triples and finished with 21 points alongside four rebounds and five assists to lead his side, but Chiba proved to be the steadier team when the going got tough big thanks to Togashi.
He scored seven of his points in the fourth quarter, including five in a telling 8-0 run toward an 87-82 advantage with 1:21 left to put themselves ahead for good after exchanging lead after lead for almost the entirety of the match.
Togashi tipped his hat to Lin and the rest of New Taipei for a match that could very well prepare them for the title bout against Seoul SK on Sunday.
“When we knew that it was the New Taipei Kings that would be our semifinals opponents, we were looking forward to matching up with Jeremy Lin. But unfortunately he couldn’t play,” he said through a translator.
“But matching up with his little brother, Joseph, was really exciting. We know he’s talented. It was really good motivation and we enjoyed it.”
Togashi expressed appreciation as well to the Cebuano crowd that cheered him and Chiba, and hoped that they’d show up on Sunday again.
“We really enjoyed playing in front of the fans, cheering and supporting us with each play. We have another game on Sunday, so we’re really looking forward to playing in front of the Philippine fans,” he said.
