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2020 NBA 2K League APAC Invitational: Recap
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The NBA 2K League APAC Invitational has been run and won for another year, and a new MVP was crowned and subsequently established himself as a serious NBA 2K League draft candidate.
The tournament of course established in part to identify regional talent did just that, as 20 of the very best players from the region put on a show of extremely high level NBA 2K basketball befitting of the end-goal, a chance to impress team management and talent evaluators alike and be drafted onto a NBA2K League team.
Seoul, South Korea was the venue, a fitting backdrop for a rapidly growing esports venture in the NBA 2K League. The event was a double header in that the League made a special announcement by officially unveiling and welcoming the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai as the 23rd franchise.
Enough of the formalities however. It is time to look at how the tournament played out. I thought it would be interesting to provide some overarching thoughts on how the tournament played out including any outstanding individual efforts.
Michael ‘BearDaBeast’ Key from T-Wolves Gaming said it best in his pre-tournament interview with Jeff Eisenband – “The competition is great. I’m not gonna lie to you. I tell you the truth (sic). I didn’t think these guys could play on the level we play on, so that has shocked me the most”.
The standard of play at the APAC Invitational has been extremely high considering players are thrown together in a short space of time and expected to perform underneath the bright lights of the stage and broadcast cameras which is exactly the type of crucible which forges strong willed players who find a way to win.
The Chinese and South Korean playing contingent impressed me with their overall skill and knowledge of the game. Their task made all the more difficult with language barriers and limited experience on the retail version of NBA 2K. Zhang ‘Cherry_Zi’ Wenxuan on a lock build and Haoyu ‘Ironman’ Li particularly impressed, Cherry_Zi was everywhere on defence and set the tone, perhaps didn’t stuff the stats but snuffed out actions before they happened and Ironman blew game two wide open with some impressive sharp shooting. An honorable mention to Poon Shing Ki ‘TR-Gobert-AP’ George of whom has potential, perhaps didn’t have the best outing but was active, engaged and in the right spots to contribute.
As expected the tournament was a hard-fought battle between ball-handlers and lockdown builds as every game turned into a point guard dual to create space and scoring opportunities. Lockdown builds as expected had a huge say in each game in particular in trying to keep a lid of their matchup.
It was difficult to select a ‘first-team lockdown’ with a three-way battle between xMonaa-, iAmMarioXXIII and Cherry_zi. All three set the tone defensively for their teams by disrupting the point guard play as best they could, blowing up screen-and-roll-actions and jumping passing lanes. However, it was Eugene ‘iAmMarioXXIII’ Pillai who rose above and took first team honours, managing to give a much needed scoring boost to the team with transition buckets and flying around the court on defence picking up the opposing point guard full court.
The story of the tournament was the extreme proficiency, scoring and shot creation shown by Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden at point guard on ‘Team L5’ leading them to a tournament victory and in the process – collecting a much deserved and unanimous Most Valuable Player Trophy and really announcing himself on the world NBA 2K stage. Jaedubb is well known to the NBA 2K community in Australasia for point guard play. Jaesubb’s performance across both games were complete all round ‘floor general’ performances – setting the table for teammates and scoring at will dropping 34 points and 11 assists in the final.
JaeDubb moves into the draft pool for the upcoming season three NBA 2K League and undoubtedly skyrockets up the draft boards as teams are still searching for franchise cornerstone ball handlers. Season two champions T-Wolves Gaming BearDaBeast showed just how important it is to build around dynamic point-guard-play.
It’s time to nominate this writer’s All-Tournament-First and Second teams. In the interest of fairness, players were selected by position only. There is no fluidity however I’m aware many players are skilled at many positions.
Please note the following is the opinion of the author and not that of the NBA 2K League.
First Team
PG Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden – MVP.
SG Eugene ‘iAmMarioXXIII’ Pillai
SF Lynard Clark ‘PBE_Clark’ Banzon
PF Li ‘Ironman’ Haoyu
C Meason ‘Milo’ Camille
Second Team
PG Aiden ‘TheGoldenDunk-’ Fleming
SG Zhang ‘Cherry_zi’ Wenxuan
SF Aminolah Jr. ‘PBE_Rial’ Polog
PF Benjamin ‘iki-ll_illuminati’ Teitzel.
C Poon Shing Ki ‘TR-Gobert-AP’ George
Team ‘L5’ are your 2020 APAC Invitational champions. Their starting line-up included:
1. Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden – MVP.
2. Zhang ‘Cherry_zi’ Wenxuan
3. Aminolah Jr ‘PBE_Rial’ Polog
4. Benjamin ‘iki-ll_illuminati’ Teitzel.
5. Hu ‘Lucky_yi_Wesely’ Yi
There are many extremely talented players in the region. What is undeniable is the appetite for NBA 2K basketball in the Asia-Pacific region. The local scene is growing year over year both in regard to localized tournaments and active participants on the five versus five Pro-Am game mode. The establishment of the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai is an incredibly important milestone in the league’s trajectory and for global expansion coupled with the APAC Invitational which is a fitting capstone event that brings all the Asia-Pacific countries together to compete for all the marbles – glory on the virtual hardwood and spots in the NBA 2K League draft pool.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: 2020 NBA 2K League APAC Invitational: Recap

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Spinmatic launches Pinky Plinko Deluxe
Following the success of its original release, Spinmatic’s Pinky Plinko returns with a beautifully reimagined Deluxe edition. The innovative B2B provider elevates the beloved game with refined mechanics, enhanced visuals and immersive sound design for a high-performing addition to any operator’s content portfolio.
Set during a mythical Japanese matsuri – a spirited festival where the human and spirit worlds briefly collide – the game invites players to join Pinky, a cheerful half-human, half-cat spirit, on a joyful journey through lantern-lit streets and supernatural surprises.
The core mechanic of the game remains the classic Plinko format, but the Deluxe version introduces a completely reworked Hold & Drop system. Players can now choose to release 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 balls at once, with each drop visualised through a fluid, lottery-style counter that enhances anticipation and immersion.
This new edition also offers a more visual and accessible approach to risk levels. The game now makes it easier for players to read the volatility of each session at a glance.
One of the most exciting additions is the introduction of Prize Multipliers – magical glowing bands that appear on the board and double the value of any ball that lands within them. These appear in one zone in the 8-line mode and two zones in the 16-line setup. Each winning drop is accompanied by bespoke visual and audio effects that scale with the prize’s value, creating a celebratory atmosphere that mirrors the game’s festive theme.
To support long-term engagement, a live results tracker has been integrated into the interface, sitting discreetly in the top-left corner. This feature allows players to monitor their recent outcomes and keep track of lucky streaks without disrupting the rhythm of play.
Beyond mechanics, Pinky Plinko Deluxe delivers a complete sensory upgrade. The background art and game board have been redesigned with intricate detail, enhancing the depth and richness of the game’s world. Every element has been refined to evoke the spirit of the festival and elevate the player experience.
The sound design also adapts dynamically, with subtle sparkles for small wins and full-scale fireworks when larger prizes are secured.
The result is an atmospheric and polished experience designed to delight players and perform strongly across a wide range of markets.
The post Spinmatic launches Pinky Plinko Deluxe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Boomerang Partners and AC Milan summarize the results of the first year of strategic partnership
Boomerang Partners, an affiliate marketing agency, is proud to announce that Boomerang and the legendary AC Milan celebrated the first anniversary of their strategic partnership. This collaboration has redefined how brands and clubs engage with fans, partners, and global sports audiences.
Over the past 12 months, this alliance has made significant strides both on and off the field. From global exposure to affiliate program growth, this partnership has become the benchmark for what a meaningful brand-club partnership in iGaming can look like.
During the year of Boomerang’s partnership with AC Milan, Boomerang Partners became one of the best sports affiliate marketing programs in the industry:
- +194% growth in sports traffic across Boomerang’s affiliate ecosystem
- +81% increase in audience interest in sports
- +23% boost in Boomerang brand loyalty
- 30+ exclusive partner campaigns were powered
- 1,000+ media mentions with a total global reach of 320M+
- 1M+ impressions on Boomerang’s platforms from AC Milan-related content
The Boomerang’s partnership with AC Milan has also influenced the brand recognition and prestige of Boomerang Partners. Some of the most prominent achievements and news were:
- Hosting the ceremony of the second annual Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 global affiliate tournament at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium;
- Participation in Boomerang Partners events by AC Milan Legends such as Andrea Pirlo, Serginho, and Massimo Ambrosini;
- More than 200 Boomerang’s partners visited San Siro during the season (the most attended match was the derby between AC Milan and Inter FC on February 2, 2025);
- Over 500 merchandising items were donated to guests and brand partners.
Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, said: “For Boomerang, the collaboration with AC Milan is a top-level achievement. During the year of our partnership, we won three prestigious industry awards: ‘Rising Star in Sports Betting’ (Operator) at the SBC Awards 2024, ‘Best Player Engagement’ at the SiGMA Europe Awards 2024, and ‘Unique Gaming Company of the Year’ at the International Gaming Awards 2025. The Club has shown itself to be an ideal partner, ready to meet our needs in joint projects. We are grateful to AC Milan and its representatives for their professionalism. I’m sure that there are many more bright activities ahead of us that will surprise the sports world and the affiliate marketing industry.”
Boomerang’s partners have also greatly benefited from the brand’s strategic partnership with AC Milan. These include unique promotional and engagement opportunities, cool campaigns and creatives, and, of course, the chance to visit the legendary San Siro stadium in Milan.
For AC Milan, the collaboration with Boomerang is an opportunity to enhance fan engagement across Europe, offering unique experiences that celebrate their shared passion for sports. Fans from all over the world were given access to special giveaways, allowing them to attend the football Club’s matches and meet its legends.
Boomerang and AC Milan have entered their second year of strategic partnership. The parties are confident that their alliance will enable them to achieve numerous successes and solidify their status as one of the most effective partnerships in the industry. Stay tuned.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Boomerang launched six new products in 2024, which contributed to an almost 1.5-fold increase in product users.
Boomerang’s portfolio contains 17+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang Partners and AC Milan summarize the results of the first year of strategic partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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InnoGames Unveils Cozy Coast, a Heartwarming Beach Adventure Featuring Relaxed Gameplay and a Captivating Story
InnoGames, one of Germany’s leading developers and publishers of mobile and browser games, is announcing Cozy Coast, an adventure game that combines an emotional storyline, richly developed characters, and engaging puzzle mechanics based on the popular Merge-2 system. The game will launch later this year on iOS and Android. Pre-registration is already available in selected regions.
With Cozy Coast, the studio highlights its versatility by introducing a new genre to its portfolio, which includes internationally acclaimed strategy games like Forge of Empires, Tribal Wars, and Heroes of History. The game combines a sunny, feel-good atmosphere with diverse entertainment, targeting discerning casual gamers who appreciate relaxing gameplay just as much as an engaging story.
Adventures Featuring Building Mechanics and Puzzle Challenges
In Cozy Coast, players accompany best friends Mia and Elara on a journey across the picturesque Mediterranean island of Calista. For Mia, the island holds treasured memories of a carefree childhood, yet the once idyllic place has somehow lost its charm. Together, the two young women set out on a mission to restore the original beauty of Calista.
Merging items is the central gameplay mechanic in Cozy Coast. By skillfully combining items, players fulfill the wishes of island residents while gathering resources to repair buildings and unlock new areas. Along the way, Mia and Elara encounter other characters and gradually uncover the island’s secrets. With its lovingly crafted environments, Cozy Coast invites players to explore every hidden corner of Calista.
“With Cozy Coast, we’re creating an inviting game world that offers players a break from everyday life while delivering challenging gameplay. For the first time in InnoGames’ history, we’re introducing a title that combines emotional storytelling with strategic merge mechanics. We look forward to welcoming players from around the world to Cozy Coast very soon,” says Christian Reshöft, Chief Product Officer at InnoGames.
Key Features of Cozy Coast
- Merge items: Strategically combine items to create new and higher-value objects
- Restore the seaside promenade: Renovate abandoned buildings to unlock new areas
- Adventure in paradise: Discover hidden places together with your best friend and uncover the secrets of a corporation with questionable intentions
- Characters with personality: Meet fascinating characters. Every encounter comes with a story – sometimes touching, sometimes mysterious, but always full of emotion
- Fresh challenges every day: Participate in daily, weekly, and seasonal events like exploration quests, puzzle collections, and special story-driven missions to receive exciting rewards and enjoy lasting gameplay
- Unwind in a Mediterranean setting: Experience stress-free gameplay paired with a captivating story of friendship, courage, and hope
- Free to play without restrictions: Launching soon worldwide on iOS and Android
Cozy Coast was already launched in selected regions on iOS and Android, with players giving it an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Pre-registration on the App Store and Google Play is now available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More regions to follow soon.
The post InnoGames Unveils Cozy Coast, a Heartwarming Beach Adventure Featuring Relaxed Gameplay and a Captivating Story appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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