EASL reveals makeover for the 2025-26 season

EASL: Your Game

The East Asia Super League tweaked its look for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Considered as arguably the top-flight in continental basketball in Asia, the EASL in its third season under its current iteration thought it was time to show love and appreciation to everyone who made it possible all across the region, from the teams and their fans to the league's partners.

As such, the thrust for this coming campaign centers on it being "Your Game."

Choosing this messaging allows the EASL to emphasize that "every city, every court, every possession is part of that limit-defying experience you share with Asia’s top teams and athletes." As the EASL will not exist without the fans.

The logo redesign and creative shift that has a clean and modern identity that matches the league's momentum and vision, noting the recent gains Asian basketball has made in the global stage.

In addition, "Your Game" provides a messaging towards the youth in the region that "their heroes once stood in where they currently stand, with a ball, a court, and a dream they made their own",  something now in place thanks to the EASL's Future Champions program. 

EASL Creative Manager Hadrein Damalerio shares about the new identity, "We saw an opportunity to create a brand identity that not only stands out but stands for something. It reflects our ambition to build the most elevated basketball platform in Asia. The design bridges our previous typography with added symbolic motion, capturing the rising energy of basketball across Asia and our commitment to push it forward."

Vice President and Head of Marketing Mat Morgan adds, "Your Game’ is more than a campaign, it’s an open invitation. Whether it comes from us, our teams, or the fans, it always says the same thing: this league is for you. It’s personal, it’s cultural, and it’s built to welcome everyone into the story."

The upcoming season sees the league add another team from Japan through its cup champion, as well as an inaugural representative from Mongolia.

Pilots secure entry in EASL Final Four

Locking in the third postseason berth in the EASL Final Four is the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, after they defeated Hong Kong Eastern, 87-61 on Wednesday night.

Chun-Hsiang Lu led all scorers with 33 points, converting five three-pointers to match HK's team total, towing them to their fourth win in Pool A.

The P.LEAGUE+ runners-up won their first three games in impressive fashion before suffering back-to-back defeats to Hiroshima, setting the scene for this particular fixture.

By finishing second in the group, they are set to face off against the other B.LEAGUE team in the EASL, the Ryukyu Golden Kings, who ended up first in Pool B. The matchup will be the second game of the semifinal doubleheader on March 7, which will take place in Macau.

It also means the P.LEAGUE+ will get representation for consecutive EASL Final Four campaigns, following the New Taipei Kings.

Speaking of the Kings, they are seeking to make their return trip to the postseason if they can defeat the Meralco Bolts next week in their home turf.

This season's EASL champion nets a $1 million reward, with $500,000 to the runner-up and $250,000 awaits the winner of the third-place game.

EASL heads into final sprint

The East Asia Super League is down to just three games in its final two playdates, with an eye towards the upcoming EASL Final Four scheduled to take place in Macau.

Stakes are high, as two spots are still up for grabs, with the two participants from the B. LEAGUE in Hiroshima and Ryukyu locking in their berths earlier.

The first spot will be determined later tonight, as Taoyuan Pauian Pilots host Hong Kong Eastern in a virtual play-in.

Both teams are coming in with contrasting form in arriving to their 3-2 record, as the Pilots losing back-to-back games after winning its first three, while the visitors have won three straight after losing its first two.

Hong Kong's winning streak has been anchored by their inside presence. Chris McLaughlin has averaged 17.8 points and 14.2 rebounds, netting double-doubles in all of their five prelims matches.

If Taoyuan is going to arrest their skid, Lu Chun-Hsiang and their reinforcements Treveon Graham and Alec Brown need to do even more heavy lifting. The trio combine for 63.6 points and almost twenty rebounds.

Preliminary action officially concludes one week later, with both Filipino teams going on the road.

The more notable matchup features the New Taipei Kings against the Meralco Bolts. Even with the inferior record at 2-3, the PBA squad can actually move into second by defeating the 3-2 P.League+ champions.

To defeat the Kings, Meralco will need Akil Mitchell's services. His health has been a concern, having missed not just the last couple of games in the PBA to cap off their eliminations stint, but also in their last game against Ryukyu in the EASL. Mitchell has averaged 25 points and twenty rebounds in continental play and will prove to be a huge factor.

New Taipei has been an offensive juggernaut, leading the league in scoring with 97.5 points. This has been anchored by Kenny Manigault, who was named as the EASL Player of the Month for January, averaging sixteen points, over ten rebounds, and seven assists per game while converting 9-of-10  from the free throw line across both games. Manigault also made history with his triple-double against Busan KCC, netting a 17-10-10, becoming the second player in the league's history to pull off the feat.

Unfortunately, that same game saw Jeremy Lin incur a lower leg injury, limiting his contributions to just five points, two rebounds, and an assist in just under 8.5 mins of action. The Harvard alum also made headlines by being named as one of the coaches for the Castrol Rising Stars this coming NBA All-Star Weekend.

The other matchup features San Miguel traveling to Korea to face Suwon KT. Both teams already eliminated and are hoping to end their continental campaigns on a bright note.

The Beermen have yet to win a game in the EASL this season, and is fresh from concluding their participation in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at 5-7.

They will face off against a Sonicboom side hoping to finish their continental stint at .500, and could potentially have JD Cagulangan make his continental debut. Cagulangan made his first appearance with Suwon on January 11, a few days after the KBL side played its penultimate game in the prelims.

The two-time UAAP champion has averaged 16.7 minutes in Korea, although he played less then ten minutes for the first time this season in their last game against KCC this past weekend.

Cignal has the rights to the EASL games this season, with tonight's matchup to be shown via Pilipinas Live.

Mongolia set to join EASL

The East Asian Super League is already looking ahead to its future, announcing that it will add another league to its ranks starting next season.

Joining the EASL is the champion of The League from Mongolia, as it continues to gather the best basketball teams from across the continent.

In making the announcement, EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins shares, "We’re excited to welcome ‘The League’ to EASL and support the growth of Mongolian basketball. This partnership is a landmark achievement that’s never been done before. It’s a testament to our commitment to elevating basketball across Asia and uniting the region’s best talent. Partnering with Mongolia’s ‘The League’ ensures that EASL teams will compete against strong, well-prepared opponents, raising the level of the game for everyone involved."

Mongolian Basketball Association Secretary-General Tugsjargal Sambuu says, "This marks a historic milestone for Mongolian basketball. For the first time, the best teams from our professional league will compete against Asia’s basketball powerhouses, highlighting our talent, resilience, and dedication to the sport. This opportunity not only elevates our league and the level of competition but also serves as a powerful inspiration for a new generation of players and fans in Mongolia. We are thrilled to showcase Mongolia’s basketball talent to hundreds of millions of fans across Asia."

The League is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this season, and the upcoming champion will be the lone country representative for the EASL. This comes a couple of days after FIBA relaunched its BCL Asia-East, which will feature Mongolia and five other countries, and includes current EASL teams New Taipei and Taoyuan.

The league also notes potential updates for the upcoming 2025-26 season will be revealed in due course.

Macau chosen to host 2025 EASL Final Four

Studio City Event Center c/o EASL

The EASL is set to host the second edition of its postseason in Macau, highlighting its commitment to expanding its presence in the Greater Bay Area.

Known for its modern infrastructure and strong sports scene in the GBA, the Macau SAR is considered as one of the ideal locations to host major events, providing convenience and a unique cultural atmosphere combined with excellent travel connections and top-notch hospitality.

Set to take place at Studio City Event Center of Melco Resorts and Entertainment, the top four teams in the preliminaries will face off in a knockout affair to determine a new champion.

On March 7, these four teams will face off in a semifinal doubleheader, with the winners advancing into the championship game a couple of days later on March 9. The losing semifinalists will tangle in the third place game on the same date.

EASL Champions get a US $1 million in prize purse, with the runner-up securing US $500,000. Finishing in third nets US $250,000.

In making the announcement, league Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins says, "EASL is beyond excited to announce that the EASL Final Four 2025 will be held in Macau SAR, a region that has become a cornerstone of our expansion in the GBA. This milestone reflects our deep commitment to the region and to showcasing premium basketball as a driver of economic growth, cultural vitality, and community engagement. Macau’s modern infrastructure and passionate fan base make it the perfect destination to host this high-stakes event, and we can’t wait to see the energy it will bring to the region."

On the end of Melco and Studio City, Melco Senior Vice President and Studio City Property General Manager Kevin Benning adds, "Melco and Studio City are committed to offering innovative and inspirational tourism and entertainment experiences to residents and guests from around the world. We are thrilled to be collaborating with EASL to bring such top-tier Asian basketball matchups once more to Studio City Event Center. We look forward to continuing our support for EASL in elevating Asian basketball in the Greater Bay Area."

In addition, the league is highlighting a couple of its partners who have served as its main sponsors.

Spalding remains to be the provider of basketballs for all of its 34 league matches, cementing its role as a trusted brand for the league.

Jeju Samdasoo has served as the league's official water partner this season in all markets except in Okinawa and Macau, quenching the thirst of players and fans with its premium bottled water. 

Hong Kong, Macau keep postseason hopes flickering

c/o EASL

The newcomer teams secured key wins on Wednesday night to bolster their cases to make the EASL Final Four.

Earlier in the evening, Macau capped off its prelims with an 89-78 triumph over Busan KCC Egis, finishing their Group B campaign at 3-3.

The Black Bears were leading 68-66 with six minutes left, before ending the game on a 21-12 run thanks to the efforts of Adonis Thomas and Jenning Leung, as well as from Damian Chong Qui and Samuel Deguara.

Chong Qui would finish with 23 points and eleven assists, while Deguara was a rebound short of a 20/20 performance with 24 points and nineteen boards.

Cady Lalanne impressed in his EASL debut for Busan, matching himself against the Maltese-Italian giant with 27 points and thirteen boards, as well as four assists. Heo Ung added twenty markers in the defeat, which was their fourth in five and effectively eliminated them from postseason contention.

Macau's hopes now rest on the aspirations of the New Taipei Kings and the Meralco Bolts, who will face off on February 12, but before that, those two teams will have separate opposition next week, with NTK facing Busan on the 21st, and the Bolts hosting Ryukyu Golden Kings on the 22nd.

In the other matchup, fellow newcomer Hong Kong Eastern dismantled San Miguel Beermen, 84-74 at the PhilSports Arena, earning a third win over their opposition in the last month.

Chris McLaughlin led the way with fifteen points and seventeen rebounds, extending his double-double streak to five matches.

The visitors took advantage of a strong start, erecting an 11-1 lead and never really looked back, except for a stretch in the fourth period that that managed to reduce the deficit to just seven points at 75-68 with under 3.5 minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Beermen, they were unable to cut the deficit further, as they remain winless in five outings so far continentally.

Their inability to kick things off well in their matches have been a noticeable trend in their last few matches. San Miguel trailed 22-12 in their previous meeting with Eastern, whilst their matchup last week against Hiroshima saw them trail 30-18 at the end of the first period.

With their third straight victory in Group A, Hong Kong moves to 3-2, with a huge matchup against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots looming on February 5. A win would secure them a spot in the EASL Final Four on their inaugural campaign.

HK Eastern seeks to complete San Miguel sweep

c/o EASL

San Miguel and Hong Kong Eastern face off in one of two scheduled East Asia Super League matches on Wednesday.

Set to tip off at 810pm, the Beermen are hoping third time's the charm against their opposition, having fallen short in both meetings so far, as HK Eastern is a guest team in the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Their first meeting took place in Hong Kong last December 18, with the hosts fending off San Miguel's late comeback attempt to end up 71-62 winners.

Four days later, they met again, with Eastern securing a 99-91 overtime triumph, with Glen Yang scoring 26 points. The game served as the debut for Jabari Narcis, who contributed 28 points and ten rebounds. Narcis is expected to make his EASL debut after sitting out last week's matchup against the Dragonflies in Hiroshima, providing much needed help for Torren Jones and JuneMar Fajardo.

Already eliminated from postseason contention having lost all four games so far, San Miguel is seeking to secure a strong finish in continental play, hoping that this would lead into some positive momentum domestically.

The Leo Austria-coached side are currently eighth place toting a 4-4 record, good enough to be in the final postseason spot for this conference.

In addition, they could also serve as spoilers to both HK Eastern and Suwon KT Sonicboom, whom they finish Group Stage action with this coming February 12.

After losing their first two continental matches, HK Eastern have won two straight games, following up their win over the Beermen with a 69-61 victory over Suwon last January 7. Both of these matches taking place at their home digs at Southorn Stadium.

Thanks to Hayden Blankley's thirteen points and five rebounds, they are now currently in third place in Group A at 2-2. With Hiroshima having locked up the one spot in the group, it will be a battle with Suwon and current second placers Taoyuan, whom HK Eastern will visit next month, for the other semifinal berth up for grabs.

Chris McLaughlin and Cameron Clark have been vital in setting things up for Hong Kong, with Blankley, Yang, and Kobey Lam serving as an effective supporting cast.

They are also looking to have this current stretch to translate in their stint in the PBA, where they are currently 6-3 and a game behind Northport atop the standings.

In the other scheduled continental matchup, Busan KCC Egis and the Macau Black Bears face off in Korea.

With both teams toting three losses, the loser of this matchup is pretty much eliminated from postseason contention.

Macau made history on their previous encounter, as Damian Chong Qui produced the league's first triple-double last November, but the Black Bears are coming off a blowout defeat to New Taipei last month.

Busan recently rejiggered their lineup, sending Deonte Burton to former EASL participants Anyang JKJ in exchange for Cady Lalanne, hoping his presence will improve their play.

Both EASL games are set to be broadcast domestically through either One Sports, One Sports+, or Pilipinas Live.

Hiroshima earn EASL postseason berth

c/o EASL

Half of the EASL Final Four field has been confirmed, as the Hiroshima Dragonflies blew out the San Miguel Beermen, 94-63, on Wednesday night at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza.

Nick Mayo and Keijiro Mitani each scored eighteen points to lead to the B.LEAGUE champions to their fourth win in five games in Group A. Kerry Blackshear Jr added a near triple-double with twelve points, fifteen rebounds, and nine assists, while also nabbing three steals.

Combined with the 69-61 victory of Hong Kong Eastern against Suwon KT Sonicboom, the results guaranteed a top-two finish for Hiroshima, which is good enough to secure entry into the postseason scheduled to take place in March.

They join fellow B.LEAGUE side Ryukyu Golden Kings, who locked in their berth last Christmas. The two best teams of the Japanese top flight will have the chance to keep the EASL title still in their nation's hands, following the achievement of the Chiba Jets last year.

Hiroshima caps off their pool play action hosting the Taoyuan Pilots on January 22.

As for the Beermen, the defeat keeps them winless in continental play this season, and with their fourth straight loss, effectively eliminates them from making the semifinals. Reinforcement Torren Jones led all scorers with 24 points and thirteen rebounds, while JuneMar Fajardo was the only other player in double figures with twelve and nine rebounds.

San Miguel will attempt to secure a win on January 15 when it hosts Hong Kong Eastern, and then complete their continental participation by traveling to Korea on February 12 to face Suwon.

Ryukyu clinches EASL postseason berth

c/o EASL

It was a Merry Christmas indeed for the Ryukyu Golden Kings.

Last season's B.LEAGUE finalists clinched a spot in the postseason at the 2024-25 East Asia Super League by defeating the New Taipei Kings on Wednesday, 82-74.

Thanks to their 4-0 record in Group B, they are guaranteed to play in the Final Four, which is set to take place this March. The champion of this season will claim US $1 million, with $500,000 to the runner-up and $250,000 to the third place finisher.

American reinforcements Keve Aluma and Jack Cooley each netted double-doubles, with the former leading all scorers with 21 points and ten rebounds, while the latter grabbed a game-high fourteen boards to pair with his ten markers. Ryuichi Kishimoto chipped in twenty points to provide offensive support.

Now 4-0 in regular-season play, the Golden Kings clinched their postseason berth with two games to spare, becoming the first team this season to qualify. It marks consecutive seasons that a Japanese club side has reached the Final Four, following the title-clinching efforts of the Chiba Jets.

Ryukyu has had a winning tradition in the EASL, having claimed the first edition of the Terrific 12 back in 2018. They fell short in making the inaugural edition of the EASL Final Four with their 3-3 record to finish third in Group B. 

The Golden Kings will finish out action at Taipei against the Kings on January 8, before capping things out on January 22 against the Meralco Bolts at the PhilSports Arena.

EASL set to host inaugural Clash of Champions Manila

Clash of Champions Manila

The Philippines will host another special doubleheader for the East Asia Super League.

After holding its kickoff event at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the league moves to the PhilSports Arena in Pasig for its "Clash of Champions Manila" on November 13.

Opening things up is the San Miguel Beermen against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots. The Treveon Graham-led P.LEAGUE+ side is fresh from a shock 91-70 beatdown of the Suwon KT Sonic Boom last October 23. That is the same Korean Basketball League side that kicked off this season with an 87-81 victory over the Beermen.

San Miguel hopes to make it a chaotic Group A with the victory, as it would bunch these three teams together behind the currently undefeated Hiroshima Dragonflies.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Meralco Bolts will tangle against Busan KCC Egis at 810pm.

Led by Deonte Burton, the KBL champions will be fresh from their season debut in Macau against the Black Bears, while the Bolts are hoping to lock in their second victory of the campaign after splitting their first couple of assignments.

Tickets for this doubleheader are already available through TicketMAX, while taking care of the local broadcast rights is Cignal, which is set to show the game through its myriad of channels across mediums.

Meralco, San Miguel split EASL assignments

c/o EASL

Philippine teams ended up with a split in the opening doubleheader for the East Asia Super League Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The opening match featured Suwon KT Sonicboom defeat San Miguel Beermen, 87-81, with Rayshaun Hammonds scoring a game-high 39 points and grabbing fourteen rebounds to lead the KBL side to their first-ever victory in the league.

Trailing at the half, 39-43, the newcomer would help jumpstart a 13-4 run to start the third period, wresting the lead at 52-47. They would eventually finish with a 68-62 lead at the end of the period. His triple off a Heo Hoon pass gave the Sonicboom a commanding 87-75 lead to effectively secure the win.

Hoon and Han Huiwon provided additional firepower for Suwon, combining for 31 points to help backstop Hammonds in scoring.

Hoon almost ended up with a double-double with seventeen points and nine assists, showcasing why he is one of the better playmakers in the continent, whilst Huiwon ended up with fourteen points off his sniping from deep.

Former Sonicboom reinforcement EJ Anosike was proven to be a major force, especially early on. He score ten points in the first quarter, then tacked on thirteen more in the next period, to help secure the lead heading into the break. Unfortunately, fellow reinforcement Quincy Miller struggled in his first stint with the Beermen, finishing with just eight points in over thirty minutes of foul trouble-plagued action.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Meralco Bolts snapped up a 97-85 victory over the Macau Black Bears, behind the efforts of Chris Newsome, who led the team with eighteen points and six assists.

The Philippine Cup Finals MVP got adequate help in holding off the debutants. Both reinforcements Allen Durham and DJ Kennedy each chipped in seventeen points, with the former adding eleven rebounds and the latter bucking a rough shooting night by stuffing the sheets with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Chris Banchero chipped in with fourteen markers, while Ange Kouame tacked on nine points and nine rebounds whilst taking on the responsibility of dealing with the towering Sam Deguara.

Macau managed to keep pace with Meralco for most of the game, but the Bolts eventually pulled away in the final period, breaking the game open from a manageable 80-72 lead. 

The win matches Meralco's lone victory last season, which came against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 97-88. They will have a chance to double that total against this same B.LEAGUE team when they travel to Okinawa to play them on October 16.

As for San Miguel, they will seek to bounce back in continental action as they host P. LEAGUE+ side Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on November 13 at the PhilSports Arena.

EASL set for 2024-25 Season with SM Mall of Asia Arena doubleheader

The 2024-25 season of the East Asia Super League kicks off on October 2 with a double-header at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Called the EASL Tip-Off 2024, it will feature both Filipino teams against continental opposition.

The first matchup sees the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup champions San Miguel Beermen against the runners-up of the 2024 Korean Basketball League, the Suwon KT Sonic Boom at 6pm.

This matchup will feature eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player JuneMar Fajardo against Heo Hoon, a point guard who averaged 15.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this past season for the Sonicboom.

At 8pm, the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup champions Meralco Bolts tangles with the Macau Black Bears, who are one of the two new additions to the competition.

Longtime Black Bear Jenning Leung will face off against Chris Newsome, a recent national team callup who averaged 16.8 points in their first foray into the EASL, including a 27-point outburst against Ryukyu.

The two games are the first of 34 that will take place across the region, and is to be capped off by the EASL Final Four slated in March 2025.

In making the EASL Tip-Off announcement, league CEO Henry Kerins shares, "Starting the season in Manila is a perfect way to showcase the passion and energy of EASL, both on the court and off it. We expect high intensity competition, with exciting entertainment and activations for fans to experience during the games. EASL Tip-Off 2024 is just the beginning of what we expect to be another amazing season of the best basketball in Asia."

East Asia Super League Unveils 2024-25 Season Schedule

The schedule for the much-anticipated 2024-25 Season of the East Asia Super League was finally revealed, with the campaign set to tip off on October.

A double-header at the SM Mall of Asia Arena will serve as the league opener, called the EASL Tipoff and will feature the two Filipino squads.

Opening things up at 610pm is the matchup between the San Miguel Beermen and the Suwon KT Sonic Boom, followed by the Meralco Bolts against the Macau Black Bears at 810pm.

Overall, there are 34 matchups set to place across the region until February next year, which also will include the EASL Mid-Season Classic scheduled to take place in Macau on December 11. This particular doubleheader is highlighted by the Black Bears hosting the New Taipei Kings, with the matchup between the Sonic Boom and the Taoyuan Pilots preceding it.

The schedule was tweaked with the addition of two new squads in Macau and Hong Kong Eastern. As a result, there will be thirty games involved for each team, with virtually all group stage matches scheduled on a Wednesday. They also accommodated the upcoming FIBA international windows, which will the league will push pause for in mid-November and mid-February. It will also take a break to commemorate the Lunar New Year at the end of January.

League CEO Henry Kerins shares about the schedule, "The 34-game EASL season is the ultimate test in Asian club basketball. After an incredible performance during our first season in 2023-24, this is now understood by teams, players and fans alike. The EASL is ‘Where Champions Clash’, the pinnacle of professional basketball in Asia."

He adds, "Fans all across Asia, whether in person or via our expanded broadcast coverage for the 2024-25 season, will all get to experience the highest level of basketball played in Asia today; EASL's thrilling competition to become champion."

The ten teams are split into two groups of five teams.

Group A has B.LEAGUE champion Hiroshima Dragonflies, Korean Basketball League (KBL) ,runner-up Suwon KT Sonicboom, P. LEAGUE+ runner-up Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup champion San Miguel Beermen, and the HKSAR champion Hong Kong Eastern

Group B has B.LEAGUE runner-up Ryukyu Golden Kings, KBL champion Busan KCC Egis, P.LEAGUE+ champion New Taipei Kings, PBA Philippines Cup champion Meralco Bolts, and Macau SAR champion Black Bears.

The two best teams of each group will advance to into the EASL Final Four championship weekend taking place this coming March 7-9, 2025.

East Asia Super League expands to 10 teams with Hong Kong Eastern and Macau Black Bears addition

HK Eastern and Macau Black Bears

The East Asia Super League is ready for expansion.

Two more teams are set to participate in the upcoming 2024-25 season, raising the number of participants to ten and making things more interesting in the biggest regional club basketball competition in East Asia.

Joining the eight teams who have earned their spots are Hong Kong Eastern and the Macau Black Bears, providing a Chinese presence in the competition.

The former is one of the most storied teams in the Crown Colony, and is its domestic champion, winning their third A1 Division title last year. They also have had continental experience through the ASEAN Basketball League, winning the competition in 2016-17 and 2023.

Hong Kong Eastern Team Leader Mr. Wilson Choi said, “Hong Kong has been striving hard for a professional basketball team to represent the city at the highest level. Now, Hong Kong Eastern will do that, as we take on East Asia’s best teams in the EASL 2024-25 Season. Eastern wants to be a major force in Asian basketball and to put Hong Kong on the map as a basketball powerhouse.”

The latter is the first-ever professional team from the former Portuguese colony, and is the defending Macau Basketball League champions. Like HK Eastern, they have previous continental basketball experience through both the ABL and the recently-held The Asia Tournament.

General Manager Lukas Peng says, "The Black Bears showed their strength in the ABL in recent years. We are investing so we can compete more strongly and challenge the best teams in Asia in EASL. We are proud to represent Macau and the wider Greater Bay Area in the EASL 2024-25 Season."

Eastern has been slotted into Group A, where they will play against B.LEAGUE champions the Hiroshima Dragonflies, Korean Basketball League (KBL) runners-up the Suwon KT Sonicboom, P. LEAGUE+ runners-up the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, and PBA Governors’ Cup champions the San Miguel Beermen.

The Black Bears, on the other hand, are allocated onto Group B,  in which they will play against B.LEAGUE runners-up the Ryukyu Golden Kings, KBL champions the Busan KCC Egis, P.LEAGUE+ champions the New Taipei Kings, and PBA Philippine Cup champions the Meralco Bolts.

In making this announcement, EASL CEO Henry Kerins says, "EASL is getting bigger and it’s getting better. It was always our ambition to expand and bring in more leagues, representing more regions in Asia. We have accelerated those plans due to the strong demand from the regional leagues to join, and their readiness to do so."

He adds, "The 2024-25 Season now includes two powerful teams from two amazing cities, in one of the biggest basketball markets in the world – China’s Greater Bay Area. Both teams have great ownership and ambitions to be major brands in Asian basketball. Fans are in for incredible clashes next year as Hong Kong Eastern and the Macau Black Bears take to the court against our existing line-up of amazing teams from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea and the Philippines."

East Asia Super League strengthens senior management team

Mark Fischer

With the field now complete for the upcoming 2024-25 season for the East Asia Super League, the organization makes some internal adjustments to strengthen itself under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins.

The biggest one sees current Chief Commercial Officer Mark Fischer being elevated as President. He will work with Kerins on corporate strategy and partnerships for the league and its teams, while overseeing all marketing, commercial, and event operations.

Fischer says about his new role, "Having successfully established EASL as the highest level of professional basketball in Asia in our inaugural season, with this new management structure we are uniquely positioned for our next phase of exponential growth. I am delighted to, along with Henry Kerins, lead such a dynamic team of talented executives throughout our organization, as we carry out aggressive expansion plans for the league, on and off the court."

Aside from Fischer's appointment, these moves were also made:

• Adam Zecha as Vice President and Head of Commercial & Broadcast Operations, where he will take the lead on broadcast and marketing partnerships. Adam is one of the foremost sports media executives in Asia, having served in leadership roles for more than 25 years with the likes of ESPN Star Sports, CSI Fight Sports and Singtel.

• Mat Morgan as Vice President and Head of Marketing. Mat has more than two decades of expertise in marketing at sports and youth culture brands in Asia-Pacific. He was previously Chief Marketing Officer at Burton China, and prior to that the Senior Director of Marketing for Asia-Pacific at Vans.

• Dominic Tang as Vice President and Head of Operations. Dominic is a veteran events and hospitality leader who played an instrumental role in producing EASL’s successful inaugural season.

• Banjo Albano as Vice President, Business Development and Head of Philippines. Banjo is an accomplished international entertainment and sports marketing entrepreneur, and one of the longest-serving members of the EASL executive team.

• Hubert Ling as Senior Director, Marketing Partnerships. Hubert joins EASL from NBA Asia, where over a nine-year span he led and delivered a series of groundbreaking sponsorship deals.

• Junji Sakata as Commercial Director, Japan. Junji is an accomplished sports marketing, talent representation, and partnership sales executive, with more than 20 years of experience. He is based in Tokyo and will drive commercial development for EASL in Japan.

• Jay Hyun Yang as Commercial Director, Korea. Jay has more than 20 years of experience in media, content, and sponsorship sales. He is based in Seoul and will focus on developing marketing partnerships in Korea. 

• Edgar Reyes as Senior Advisor, Broadcast Production & Operations. Edgar has more than 30 years of sports broadcast production experience, including as Head of Production for international television coverage for three Southeast Asian Games, and head of Philippine coverage for six Olympic Games and seven Asian Games.

These moves allow the league to solidify its management structure while also adding a wealth of experience, as it targets significant growth in its immediate future.

San Miguel, Meralco complete 2024-25 EASL field

PBA x EASL

The last two teams of the upcoming East Asia Super League's 2024-25 season are now officially confirmed, with the Philippine Basketball Association selecting the San Miguel Beermen and the Meralco Bolts.

Both teams were picked based from their performances in the just concluded season of the oldest Asian professional league.

League Commissioner Willie Marcial shared this statement in line with the announcement: "The PBA is excited to send two of its champion teams to compete in EASL. The San Miguel Beermen and the Meralco Bolts showed their strength last season by winning the Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup, respectively. They will represent Filipino basketball with pride and we hope that one of them will be crowned the champion of East Asia next season."

EASL CEO Henry Kerins adds, "Filipino teams and fans bring great competitiveness and passion to EASL and we are delighted to confirm the participation of the San Miguel Beermen and the Meralco Bolts next season. We expect them to compete strongly for the championship, against the best teams from the rest of East Asia."

San Miguel finished as the 2023-24 Commissioner's Cup champions and finished runner-up in the Philippine Cup, losing to Meralco in the finals.

Both teams have had previous stints in the EASL, with San Miguel having played in the Terrific 12 iteration of the league in 2019, while Meralco was part of the campaign last season.

For this coming campaign, San Miguel has been allocated into Group A alongside B.LEAGUE champions Hiroshima Dragonflies, KBL runners-up Suwon KT Sonicboom, and P.LEAGUE+ runners-up Taouyan Pauian Pilots.

As for Meralco, they will be placed onto Group B, joining fellow EASL participants last year Ryukyu Golden Kings and New Taipei Kings, with KBL champions Busan KCC Egis completing the field.

The upcoming season will have a new champion, as last year's title holders Chiba Jets was unable to qualify after not making to the finals of this past B.LEAGUE season.

Busan KCC Egis and Suwon KT Sonicboom earn EASL 2024-25 Season berths

 

L-R: Henry Kerins (CEO, EASL); Heo Hoon (player, Suwon KT Sonicboom); Moon Seong Gon (player, Suwon KT Sonicboom); Song Young Jin (Head Coach, Suwon KT Sonicboom), Chun Chang Jin (Head Coach, Busan KCC Egis), Heo Ung (player, Busan KCC Egis); Song Kyo Chang (player, Busan KCC Egis); Mark Fischer (CCO, EASL)

With the conclusion of the Korean Basketball League semifinals, we now know the first two teams comprising the East Asia Super League for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Busan KCC Egis was the first team in after dispatching Wonju DB Promy in four games, 3-1. The other team is Suwon KT Sonicboom, who outlasted Changwon LG Sakers, 3-2.

The winner of their best-of-seven matchup, scheduled to take place on April 27 until May 9, will be placed into Group B for the upcoming EASL season. The other side is allocated into Group A.

Both EASL Chief Executive Officer Henry Kerins and Chief Commercial Officer Mark Fischer graced the KBL Finals Media Day in Seoul on Thursday to congratulate both teams for earning their qualification.

Kerins says, "The strength of the Korean Basketball League was shown when two Korean teams made it to the EASL Final Four 2024 in March. We have no doubt that Busan KCC Egis and Suwon KT Sonicboom will once again show that KBL teams are elite clubs in the Asia region, will compete for the championship in the EASL 2024-25 Season."

With two teams down, six spots remain to complete the 2024-25 field: with a couple each from the other three leagues: the B.LEAGUE in Japan, the P.LEAGUE= in Chinese-Taipei, and the Philippine Basketball Association in the Philippines.

The identities of these teams will be revealed in the next few months.

EASL secures partnerships for Final Four in Cebu

With the Final Four set to take place in Cebu this week, the East Asia Super League locked in additional partnerships, the league disclosed on Wednesday.

Philippine Airlines, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, and TikTok have been snapped up as Official Partners for the inaugural event, while Anta and McDonald's are Product Partners, joining Spalding as they supply the EASL Final Four with sportswear, food and refreshment, and basketballs, respectively.

EASL Final Four activities kick off on Thursday with the Opening Press Conference at the Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, which will be streamed on the league's YouTube channel.

The actual games take place the next day at the Hoops Dome, kicking it off with a KBL duel between Seoul SK Knights and the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters at 5pm. The second half of the doubleheader pits the Chiba Jets and the New Taipei Kings three hours later.

The winners will face off for the title at 7pm on Sunday, with the third place game preceding it at 4pm.

Fans can still purchase tickets to the four games via TicketMAX, or watch it on either One Sports or One Sports+ , as well as through CignalPlay or Pilipinas Live.

Abando makes KBL return, guides Anyang with EASL Final Four in sight

Rhenz Abando (c/o EASL)

With the East Asia Super League's Final Four set this coming weekend, good news arrived for Anyang Jung Kwan Jang.

Rhenz Abando played 28 minutes in the Red Boosters' 92-87 victory over Goyang Sono, his first game back since his injury.

The guard contributed seventeen points, as well as grabbing four rebounds and dishing three assists, after sitting out a couple months since his harrowing fall last December 28. Fittingly it was against the same opponent.

He shared about their performance, "I am happy that I was able to win on my comeback match. The team still has some room to improve, but I am happy that we won."

Sono reinforcement Chinuanu Onuaku, whose collision with Abando caused the fall that led to his lumbar fracture, met with him ahead of today's matchup. The latter shares, "Onuaku said, ‘I’m sorry … It wasn’t intentional,’ and I responded that I had no personal feelings."

The return was made more special with the presence of the Philippines Ambassador to Korea, H.E. Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega gracing the occassion, alongside fellow embassy officials, as well as the Filipino community in Anyang, which is located twenty miles southwest of the South Korean capital Seoul.

Abando adds, "The support of the Filipino fans is a great help. The embassy people came, so I think I’m even happier that we won the game."

EASL officials worked with the Red Boosters in getting the contingent present for the important matchup.

The win ended a nine-game skid in the league for Anyang, who have especially struggled during Abando's absence, having won just five games in all competitions since the injury. A couple of those wins came during EASL's group phase, allowing them entry in to the Final Four, set to take place at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City on March 8-10.

The Red Boosters will face off against the Seoul SK Knights in the semifinals at 5pm, followed by the Chiba Jets against the New Taipei Kings at 8pm. The winners will face off for the championship a couple of days later at 7pm, with the third place game taking place at 4pm the same day.

About his chances in playing the Final Four, Abando notes about his condition, "It is currently at 85-90 percent. It’s hard to talk about pain right now – there is pain when leaning over. I hope that after sleeping for a day, the pain will go away and I can play in the EASL."

Tickets for the four games are already available via TicketMax, with the games set for broadcast on One Sports and One Sports+, as well as streamed through Pilipinas Live.

EASL Final Four matchups set

EASL Final Four

With the conclusion of the pool play games on Wednesday, the EASL semifinal pairings have been confirmed for next month.

Seoul SK Knights topped Group B after dismissing the Meralco Bolts, 72-62 on their home turf, setting up a duel with fellow Korean side and defending champions Anyang Jung Kwan Jang. Both teams finished their respective pools at 5-1. Their matchup will kick off the semifinal doubleheader at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City at 5pm on March 8.

In the other matchup, the undefeated Chiba Jets of Group A is slated to face the New Taipei Kings, which will feature two of the most exciting players in the region in Yuki Togashi and Jeremy Lin.

The latter has been dominant in the P. LEAGUE+ for the Kings, almost averaging a triple-double with 26.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. He recently incurred an injury during their matchup against Ryukyu Golden Kings, and was rested 

The winners tangle in the Championship Game couple of days later at 7pm, with the third place matchup set to tip at 4pm, also to be played at the Hoops Dome. They will become the first champion of the EASL in its intended true full-length home-and-away format.

Tickets for both playdates will be made available through TicketMAX.