Roaring returns highlight top performers across Asian leagues

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Tis the season to be jolly as December tipped off with some exciting performances from players all across the various leagues in Asia. Here's a quick look through some of the action!

Don't forget to vote for the player who you were rooting for throughout this past week!

Disclaimer: Information taken into account for this update is as considered from 1-7 December, 2023.

Welcome back!

Home is where the hardwood is and that's why it must have felt refreshing for the various players who made their return "home" to the court.

Young center Ha Yoongi came off the bench for the first time this KBL season for Suwon KT Sonicboom after coming back from an injury that had kept him out of the lineup since 13 November. He barely skipped a beat, putting up 24 points and 7 rebounds to help his team get their 6th straight win, not too far off his season averages of 20 points and 7 rebounds per game.

 

Another big man coming off an injury was Zhou Qi. Not only was it a recovery return, it was also a return to the CBA for the China national team star with a twist of it being a debut for his new team, Guangdong Southern Tigers. Over his first three games in his first week back: 3 wins, 19.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 blocks on 76.9 percent field-goal shooting.

In Japan's B.League, another former NBA player and Asian star made a season debut - Utsunomiya Brex's Yuta Tabuse. The 43-year-old is among one of the three most senior players in the B.League and was more than delighted to be able to make his first appearance this season in a win.

 

Hamid Lateef also returned to action in WASL-Gulf for Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai for his first game this season. After an impressive stat line of 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game last year, he recorded 9 points, 5 boards, and 4 dimes in a win over Kazma to cap off a successful debut.

Over in WASL-West Asia, it was the return of defending champions Al Riyadi that took the headlines, specifically reigning Asia Cup MVP Wael Arakji. Despite the rowdy crowd, Arakji calmly put in work to the tune of 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The biggest return of all returns over this past period might probably have been in the PBA where LA Tenorio played in his first game in over nine months. The 17-year veteran was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, but made an inspiring comeback to be at the point where he is back to doing what he loves. Tenorio scored six points in 25 minutes of action in a 110-99 win for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

 

Baaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Quick shoutout here to Nick Fazekas who became the first player in B1 history to score 9,000 points. In an electric clash against Nagasaki Velca that went to overtime, Fazekas nearly had a triple-double of 18 points, 20 rebounds, and 9 assists to reach the milestone.

 

He currently has 9,016 points to his name and will add on more to that total in this season which he has announced will be his last.

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