In Yuki Togashi, EASL finds its border-crossing star

Chiba Jets’ Yuki Togashi. –EASL PHOTO

LAPU-LAPU CITY—The “MVP” chants Yuki Togashi received during his starring performance in the Chiba Jets’ run to the East Asia Super League (EASL) title here cemented his status as a star among Filipino fans.

“It was like a home game for us,” Togashi said through an interpreter after being named the Final Four Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Japanese club’s 72-69 win over South Korea’s Chiba Jets before a packed crowd on Sunday at Hoops Dome.

Togashi’s brilliance both in scoring and facilitating the ball during the two games caught the attention of the local crowd, making him the top draw after lone Filipino Rhenz Abando of Anyang Jung Kwan Jang played just one game and ex-NBA player Jeremy Lin skipping the Final Four due to their respective injuries.

READ: Fan favorite Yuki Togashi leads Chiba Jets to EASL title in Cebu

“Actually, playing in these Asian countries, including national games, I didn’t really have this kind of chants,” said Togashi. “But in this EASL league, everywhere we go, there’s a lot of supporters, there’s a lot of cheers, and that makes it really fun to play in.

WATCH: Chiba's Yuki Togashi is named Most Valuable Player of the EASL Final Four, prompting "MVP" chants from the crowd inside Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/64RB7h2voz

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“But it’s not like what I did, it’s maybe the environment that everybody loves sports and basketball—each play, everybody enjoyed it. That was really great for us. It was not about myself but the whole atmosphere that created that environment.”

There’ll probably be more attention for Togashi moving forward, particularly with the Fiba Asia Cup a year away, with Japan’s Akatsuki Five expected to be among the biggest obstacles in Gilas Pilipinas’ bid to win the quadrennial tournament.

READ: EASL: Japan star Togashi relishing Filipino fans’ support in Cebu

With Togashi among the premier players, Japan has perhaps become Asia’s top team especially after qualifying for this year’s Paris Olympics through the recent Fiba World Cup.

Chiba ruled the EASL’s first home-and-away season by winning all eight games, including twin beatings of TNT in group play. The Jets also took home the top purse of $1 million.