"VAN" (Sports Desk - 25.05.2026) :: South China Athletic emerged as the new BCL Asia-East champions after beating Taoyuan Pauian, 113-103, in the Final of the 2026 competitions, Sunday night at the Arena Larkin Indoor Stadium.
Kyvon Davenport led the way with 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Glen Yang finished with 24 points and 6 assists as the tandem sparked the third-quarter breakaway on the way to ruling the pan-regional contest.
Yang eventually earned Most Valuable Player honors as the seasoned floor general played a crucial role in the HKA1 ball club's turnaround from a sluggish run in the regular season to a 4-game sweep of the Final 6.
Kelvin Tsang and Isaiah Briscoe came through with 19 points apiece, while Rodrigue Andela notched a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds as Coach Lo Yi Ting drew inspired performances from his core.
The Pilots were led by Will Artino with 35 points and 13 rebounds but his efforts weren't enough to help the club from Chinese Taipei atone for last year's heartbreak, instead settling for a runner-up finish once again.
Justin Lu provided 22 points, with Li Chia-Kang adding 10 for the P. League+ outfit, who found themselves losing to the same team that snapped their unbeaten 7-game winning streak during the Final 6 Group Phase.
Still, the Pilots are headed to the BCL Asia 2026 along with South China, who have become the first team from Hong Kong, China to reach the continent's most prestigious club competition since Winling in 2002.
Meanwhile, the Chinggis Broncos salvaged a podium finish following an 84-66 win over Dewa United Banten in the Third-Place Game for some consolation after their reign ended at the hands of South China in the Semi-Finals.
BCL Asia-East 2026 final standings:
1. South China Athletic
2. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
3. Chinggis Broncos
4. Dewa United Banten
Glen Yang made his first-ever Basketball Champions League Asia-East stint all the more memorable by taking home Most Valuable Player honors of the 2026 competitions, Sunday night.
The Canadian-board floor general earned the pan-regional contest's highest individual award after helping lead South China Athletic to the championship at the expense of Taoyuan Pauian in the Final, 113-103.
He received the title from FIBA Asia Executive Director, Mr. Hagop Khajirian, just before the awarding ceremonies, which concluded with the club from Hong Kong, China hoisting the coveted trophy in celebration.
"It's very, very special," a grateful Yang reflected. "This club was the club that I started my professional career with when I was 19. And to come back full circle... It's just a short period, but it felt so special."
"We really had no expectations coming into it; we just kinda went into it hoping for the best. And to come out on top winning the Basketball Champions League Asia-East is amazing. It's unbelievable," he added.
Yang was among those who shined in the titular bout, finishing with 24 points on an excellent 10-of-12 shooting from the floor - including a perfect 4-of-4 clip from deep - on top of 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.
A well-traveled pro who's had stints in Europe and Asia, the 29-year-old rejoined SCAA for this year's BCL Asia-East edition and became one of their more consistent producers even though they struggled at first.
In the six games they played in the regular season, Yang averaged 13.3 points on 46.4-percent shooting from three-point distance, 3.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.7 minutes of action.
That included a 14-point outing against the Chinggis Broncos in their final Group Phase game last May 5, in which he scored 11 in the fourth to tow his side to the 86-84 win which eventually sent them to the Final 6.
He'd go on to up the ante come the Final 6, averaging 15.6 points to help South China sweep their way into the Final, highlighted by big wins against the erstwhile unbeaten Pilots and the Broncos in the Semi-Finals.
Then came the Big Dance, where Yang would save his best for last as he played a major role in repeating against their counterparts from Chinese Taipei on the way to emerging as the new kings of the region.
"It was just a total team effort. It's honestly unbelievable, and a huge career moment for me - and I know for my teammates and coaches as well," said Yang.
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