The Taoyuan Pilots, recently crowned P.League+ champions, secured a decisive 81-62 victory over fellow Chinese Taipei club, the New Taipei Kings, in a crucial matchup at the MBank Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This Friday night win not only propelled the Pilots into the Final of the current tournament but also guaranteed them a coveted spot in the upcoming Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), scheduled to take place from June 7-13 in Dubai, UAE.

Pilots head coach Iurgi Caminos expressed his elation, stating, "Happy for this. Happy for winning. Happy for playing another Final this season and happy to qualify for the BCL Asia." The game began with both teams trading blows, but the Pilots managed to create separation with a significant 10-0 run towards the end of the first quarter.

During the first half, the New Taipei Kings were kept in contention largely due to the efforts of Mike Efevberha, who contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Chris Johnson, who added 9 points and an impressive 11 rebounds. However, the Pilots maintained their lead through a balanced offensive strategy, spearheaded by Jarrod Jones who tallied 14 points and 5 rebounds in the initial two quarters.

The Kings, driven by Efevberha's continued offensive prowess, mounted a serious challenge in the fourth quarter, managing to reduce a double-digit deficit to just four points. Efevberha finished the game as the leading scorer with 26 points and 9 rebounds. Despite this surge, the Pilots demonstrated their resilience. Key baskets from Alec Brown (10 points, 9 rebounds) and Julian Boyd (7 points, 6 rebounds), who had struggled to find their mark earlier in the game, were crucial in preventing the Kings from seizing momentum.

The Pilots then decisively stamped their authority on the game. A spectacular dunk by Jarrod Jones extended their lead to over ten points. Shortly thereafter, Lu Chun Hsiang delivered a clutch three-pointer – his only field goal of the game – effectively quashing any hopes of a comeback for the Kings and cementing Taoyuan's place in the Final.

Jarrod Jones was a standout performer for the Pilots, finishing with a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds. The Pilots' victory was a testament to their team depth, with seven players scoring at least seven points. For the Kings, despite the loss, Chris Johnson also had a notable game, recording 11 points, a remarkable 20 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Reflecting on the game, Efevberha acknowledged the Kings' effort: "We fought pretty hard for about 32 minutes, it became a four-point game and I think guys just got gassed, got a little tired in the fourth quarter and made some mistakes and turnovers which led them to get easy points. But I give credit to my team. I was telling them throughout the whole game, keep fighting, have fun and that’s what they did. That’s the King’s way, to fight to the end." Jarrod Jones commented on the Pilots' adaptability: "I think we just played our normal basketball. They switched up a little bit and threw a zone at us, a zone press at us and we just adjusted and its something that coch prepared us for ahead of time. I think basketball is a game of runs. They will have good runs, we will have good runs. It’s just a matter of playing it to the end of the game."

With this victory, the Taoyuan Pilots advance to the Final, which is scheduled for May 30 at 9:00 PM local time. The New Taipei Kings will compete in the third-place game, set for 6:00 PM local time on the same day. The Pilots also look forward to representing their league in the BCL Asia.