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East Asia Super League

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East Asia Super League
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2026–27 East Asia Super League
SportBasketball
Founded2016
First season2023–24
MottoYour Game[1]
No. of teams12
Country Chinese Taipei
 Hong Kong
 Japan
 Macau
 Mongolia
 Philippines
 South Korea
ContinentFIBA Asia (Asia)
Most recent
champion
Japan Utsunomiya Brex (1st title)
Most titlesJapan Chiba Jets
Japan Hiroshima Dragonflies
Japan Utsunomiya Brex
(1 title each)[a]
Promotion toBasketball Champions League Asia
Websiteeasl.basketball
East Asia Super League
Traditional Chinese東亞超級聯賽
Simplified Chinese东亚超级联赛
Transcriptions

The East Asia Super League[b] (EASL) is an international basketball league featuring 12 club teams from Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan (Chinese Taipei).

From 2017 to 2019, four pre-season tournaments (the Super 8 and the Terrific 12) were organized by the EASL, featuring clubs from selected professional basketball leagues in the region.

With official backing from FIBA Asia, the EASL has made a transition towards a full-fledged league. The first such season commenced in 2023 and featured eight teams. This was expanded to ten teams for the 2024–25 season, and to twelve teams for the 2025–26 season.

Since the 2025–26 season, the EASL serves as a pathway towards qualification for Basketball Champions League Asia, FIBA's continental club competition in Asia.

History

[edit]

The East Asia Super League was co-founded by Matt Beyer and Henry Kerins[2] as the Asia League as a response to what the founders deem as a lack of high-level international tournaments featuring basketball clubs in the region[3] also taking into account the population in the region, about 2 billion, which could be a potential market for a regional inter-club tournament. The Asia League was envisioned to be East Asian counterpart of the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League where professional teams from Asia could compete against each other with minimal conflict with their mother league's schedules.[4]

Their stated mission is to be able to organized basketball tournaments featuring club sides from top Asian leagues with the organizers naming the CBA (China), B.League (Japan), KBL (South Korea), PBA (Philippines), SBL (Taiwan), and the ABL (Southeast Asia, China, and Taiwan).[5]

Preseason tournaments era (2017–2020)

[edit]

The Super 8

[edit]

The first tournament by EASL, then called the Asia League, was the Super 8: Macau Basketball Invitational,[6] involving eight teams in September 2017 at the Studio City Event Centre in Macau.[7] The competing teams in attendance were the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Shenzhen Aviators (formerly Shenzhen Leopards), Goyang Orions, Seoul Samsung Thunders, Fubon Braves, Pauian Archiland, Chiba Jets, and Ryukyu Golden Kings.

Organizers initially dubbed the tournament as the "Asia League," but this led to a legal dispute with FIBA over the name of the league when FIBA deemed the tournament's branding and marketing to be in conflict with its own FIBA Asia Champions Cup. The dispute led to the renaming of the competition to "Super 8,"[6] and the tournament was then officially recognized by FIBA after the league organizers sought legal assistance of Quinn Emanuel's Thomas Werlen, who has represented FIFA in investigations of the United States Department of Justice.[3]

The inaugural Super 8 tournament was won by the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B. League,[8] with the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions placing second and the Goyang Orions taking third place. The event garnered 21 million views worldwide.

A second edition of the tournament, dubbed the Summer Super 8, followed in July 2018 at the Macau East Asian Games Dome,[9] and featured the introduction of two professional club teams from the PBA, the NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Elite. The eight competing teams in attendance were the Guangzhou Loong Lions, Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Seoul Samsung Thunders, Incheon Electroland Elephants, NLEX Road Warriors, Blackwater Elite, Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka, and Formosa Dreamers. The Guangzhou Loong Lions won first place, while the Seoul Samsung Thunders took second place and the Incheon Electroland Elephants placed third.

The Terrific 12

[edit]
Logo of The Terrific 12 tournament.

In 2018, the Super 8 tournament was expanded into a larger tournament format called The Terrific 12, featuring 12 teams instead of eight. The Terrific 12 (2018) tournament was organized in collaboration with and supported by the Sports Bureau of Macau SAR Government and hosted at the Studio City Event Centre.

The competing teams were the Shandong Heroes (formerly Shandong Golden Stars), Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus, Seoul Samsung Thunders, Fubon Braves, Yulon Luxgen Dinos, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, Ryukyu Golden Kings and Chiba Jets. The Ryukyu Golden Kings won first place, while the Guangzhou Loong Lions placed second and the Seoul Samsung Thunders took third place.

In 2019, Asia League rebranded to the "East Asia Super League," and it hosted the second iteration of The Terrific 12 at the Tap Seac Multi-Sports Pavilion in Macau from September 17–22. The competing teams were the Liaoning Flying Leopards, Shenzhen Aviators, Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, Chiba Jets, Niigata Albirex BB, Ryukyu Golden Kings, Utsonomiya BREX, Jeonju KCC Egis, Seoul SK Knights, Blackwater Elite, TNT KaTropa and San Miguel Beermen.

Terrific 12 (2019) also featured the EASL debut of former NBA player and CBA import Lance Stephenson, who earned MVP awards for his 34-point outburst in the Terrific 12 (2019) championship finals, a close 83–82 finish for the Liaoning Flying Leopards over the Seoul SK Knights. The Zhejiang Guangsha Lions won second place and the San Miguel Beermen took home third in the event.

Plans for a 2020 iteration of The Terrific 12 tournament on September[10] have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Start of regular EASL seasons (2023–)

[edit]
Logo of the EASL used until 2025.

Plans and postponements

[edit]

In August 2020,[12] EASL and FIBA entered into a multi-year agreement granting EASL FIBA's recognition to hold a full-fledged in-season league featuring clubs from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan (representing "Greater China").[13] The inaugural season would feature 8 teams. It was planned that they would play home-and-away games against each other with the top four teams advancing to a Final Four event.[14]

P. League+ (Taiwan),[15] the Philippine Basketball Association,[16] the Korean Basketball League[17] (South Korea), and the B.League[17] (Japan) committed to send teams for the EASL. The Bay Area Dragons, a franchise team meant to represent "Greater China" was also formed by the EASL.[18]

The EASL received high profile financial support. The Raine Group along with former NBA stars such as Metta Sandiford-Artest, Baron Davis and Shane Battier in December 2021 reportedly invested in the EASL.[19]

The launch of the EASL would be hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic,[20] with plans to hold its inaugural home-and-away tournament in 2022 cancelled.[21]

2023 season: Champions Week

[edit]

In place of the cancelled 2022 home-and-away tournament, the 2023 EASL Champions Week would be organized. It was originally meant as a pre-season tournament for the 2023–24 season.[22] Anyang KGC were the first champions.[23]

2023–24 EASL season: inaugural season

[edit]

With the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions lifted in regions surrounding the partnering leagues, EASL was able start their inaugural season in October 2023.

The champions and runner-up of Japan's B.League (Ryukyu Golden Kings and Chiba Jets), South Korea's KBL (Anyang KGC and Seoul SK Knights), Chinese Taipei's P. League+ (Taipei Fubon Braves and New Taipei Kings) got a berth for the 2023–24 season. The Philippines' PBA was represented by 2023 PBA Commissioner's Cup champions, TNT Tropang Giga and semifinalists, Meralco Bolts.

The 2023 B.League runner-up Chiba Jets went undefeated in the Group Stage, winning the Group A while 2023 KBL champions, Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters came in second in Group A with a 4-2 record. In Group B, 2023 KBL runners-up, Seoul SK Knights won the group, while P. League+ runners-up, New Taipei Kings, came in second. The four teams would advance to the 2024 EASL Final Four in a three-day playoffs held in Hoops Dome, Cebu, Philippines.[24]

In the first game of the 2024 EASL Final, the Seoul SK Knights defeated Korean-counterpart Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in a tightly contest battle, advancing to the 2024 EASL Final Four Championship Game. The Chiba Jets stayed undefeated following a win against the New Taipei Kings.

In the Championship Game, the Chiba Jets defeated Seoul SK Knights in a tightly-contested game, beating the Korean side 72-69, becoming the first champion in EASL history. Japan National Basketball Team captain, Yuki Togashi was named 2024 EASL Final Four Most Valuable Player.[25]

2024–25 EASL season: second season

[edit]

The 2024 B.League champions Hiroshima Dragonflies and runners-up Ryukyu Golden Kings represented Japan.[26] The 2024 KBL champions, Busan KCC Egis and runners-up, Suwon KT Sonicboom represented South Korea.[27] The 2024 P. League+ champions New Taipei Kings and runners-up Taoyuan Pauian Pilots represented Chinese Taipei.[28] The 2024 PBA Philippine Cup champions Meralco Bolts and 2024 PBA Commissioner's Cup champions San Miguel Beermen represented the Philippines.[29]

For the expansion teams, representing Hong Kong was Hong Kong Eastern, while the Macau Black Bears represented Macau.[30]

In the Championship Game, the Hiroshima Dragonflies defeated Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 72-68, winning the 2024–25 season championship. And Dwayne Evans was named as 2025 EASL Final Four Most Valuable Player.[31]

2025–26 EASL season: third season

[edit]

On January 24, 2025, the EASL announced that the 2024-25 season champion of The League would represent Mongolia to join 2025–26 EASL season.[32] On May 13, the EASL announced that the 2025 Emperor’s Cup champion would join 2025–26 EASL season.[c] On July 24, the EASL announced that New Taipei Kings would return to 2025–26 EASL season.[34] On July 28, the EASL announced that Hong Kong Eastern and Macau Black Bears would return to 2025–26 EASL season.[35][36] And the EASL announced that the group stage would change to three group. The top two teams from each group advanced to postseason.[37] On December 15, the FIBA announced that EASL became the official qualifier for Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia). The top performing EASL teams representing B.League, Korean Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association would secure direct qualification to BCL Asia.[38]

In the Championship Game, the Utsunomiya Brex defeated Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, 90-81, winning the 2025–26 season championship. And Makoto Hiejima was named as 2026 EASL Finals MVP.[39]

2026–27 EASL season: fourth season

[edit]

On May 26, 2026, the EASL announced that the 3 teams of the P. League+ playoffs would join 2026–27 EASL season.[40] On July 10, the EASL announced that Hong Kong Eastern would return to 2026–27 EASL season.[41] On July 13, the EASL announced that Macau Hou Chon would join 2026–27 EASL season.[42] On July 21, the FIBA modified the qualification structure for Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia). The best-ranked EASL teams from Japan and Korea, and the best-ranked EASL team overall excluding teams from Japan and Korea would secure direct qualification to BCL Asia.[43] On August 19, the EASL announced that the 2025 season champion of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) would represent the Philippines to join 2026–27 EASL season.[44]

Leagues represented

[edit]

The East Asia Super League starting from the 2023 EASL Champions Week is represented by teams from selected domestic leagues.[45]

The league considers the franchise team and the P. League+ championship team of Taiwan as representatives of "Greater China".[22]

Starting from the 2026–27 season, the league represented are as follow:

LeagueCountry or regionBerth(s)
P. League+ Chinese Taipei[d]3
B.League Japan3
Korean Basketball League South Korea2
The League Mongolia1
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Philippines1
Other Hong Kong1
Macau1
Former leagues
LeagueCountry or regionFirst seasonLast season
Philippine Basketball Association Philippines2023–242025–26

Preseason tournaments

[edit]

The following leagues were represented in the EASL's preseason tournaments from 2017 to 2023.

From 2021 to 2023, the EASL maintained its own franchise team independent from any other domestic leagues, the Bay Area Dragons.[45]

Country or regionLeague
ChinaChinese Basketball Association
Chinese Taipei[d]Super Basketball League
JapanB.League
South KoreaKorean Basketball League
PhilippinesPhilippine Basketball Association
None (selection team)
Hong KongNone (franchise team)

Results

[edit]

Pre-season tournaments

[edit]
Year Tournament Final Third and fourth place
Winners Score Second place Third place Score Fourth place
Asia League (2017–2018)
2017 Super 8 Japan
Chiba Jets
83–73 China
Zhejiang Guangsha Lions
South Korea
Goyang Orions
88–71 Japan
Ryukyu Golden Kings
2018 Super 8 China
Guangzhou Loong Lions
78–72 South Korea
Seoul Samsung Thunders
South Korea
Incheon Electroland Elephants
67–62 Philippines
NLEX Road Warriors
The Terrific 12 Japan
Ryukyu Golden Kings
85–76 China
Guangzhou Loong Lions
South Korea
Seoul Samsung Thunders
105–92 Japan
Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
East Asia Super League (2019–2023)
2019 The Terrific 12 China
Liaoning Flying Leopards
83–82 South Korea
Seoul SK Knights
China
Zhejiang Lions
91–89 Philippines
San Miguel Beermen
2020The Terrific 12 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 No tournament No tournament
2023 Champions Week South Korea
Anyang KGC
90–84 South Korea
Seoul SK Knights
Hong Kong
Bay Area Dragons
90–70 Japan
Ryukyu Golden Kings

Regular seasons

[edit]
No. Year Final Four/Finals hosts Final Third and fourth place No. of teams
Winners Score Second place Third place Score Fourth place
1 2023–24
Details
Philippines Japan
Chiba Jets
72–69 South Korea
Seoul SK Knights
South Korea
Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
78–76 Chinese Taipei
New Taipei Kings
8
2 2024–25
Details
Macau Japan
Hiroshima Dragonflies
84–80 Chinese Taipei
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
Chinese Taipei
New Taipei Kings
72–68 Japan
Ryukyu Golden Kings
10
3 2025–26
Details
Macau Japan
Utsunomiya Brex
90–81 Chinese Taipei
Taoyuan Pauian Pilots
Japan
Ryukyu Golden Kings
77–76 Japan
Alvark Tokyo
12
4 2026–27
Details
TBA To be determined To be determined 12

Medal table

[edit]

Preseason tournaments era (2017–2023)

[edit]
Nation Gold Silver BronzeTotal
 Japan5004
 China2215
 South Korea2237
 Hong Kong0011

Media coverage

[edit]

As of the 2026–27 season.[46]

Country/region Broadcaster
Worldwide YouTube
Australia beIN Sports
New Zealand
Brunei Astro
Malaysia
China Migu
Hong Kong HOY TV
Indonesia Emtek
Japan U-Next
South Korea JTBC Golf&Sports
MBC Sports+
Macau TDM
Macau Cable
Maldives Medianet
Mongolia PSN
Myanmar Sky Net
Philippines TAP Sports
Singapore StarHub TV
Taiwan Formosa TV
TVBS
Thailand TrueVisions

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Excluding the pre-season tournaments era prior to 2023
  2. ↑ Official name in other languages
  3. ↑ If the Emperor’s Cup champion reaches the B.League finals, the EASL spot would go to the Emperor’s Cup runner-up. If the Emperor’s Cup champion and runner-up all reach the finals, the highest-seeded semifinalist not advancing would take the spot.[33]
  4. 1 2 Taiwan, officially Republic of China. The organizers of the EASL[22] and FIBA uses the designation of "Chinese Taipei".

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Schiff, Tyler (1 July 2025). "East Asia Super League Unveils Rebrand, Marks New Era of Growth". East Asia Super League. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "Building Asian basketball's first 'Champions League'". South China Morning Post. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 Deveney, Sean. "How To Start A Major New Asian Basketball League In The Age Of Coronavirus". Forbes. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Lintag, Paul (21 July 2018). "BASKETBALL SUPER 8: Inside the Asia League's grand basketball plans for the region". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "About Asia League". Asia League. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 Atkin, Nicolas (11 August 2017). "The battle for basketball in Asia: upstart Macau tournament ruffles Fiba feathers". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Odeven, Ed (14 September 2017). "Jets, Kings set for inaugural Super 8 tourney". Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Lintag, Paul (25 July 2018). "Two Pinoy teams to see action in new Macau joust". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Asia League Summer Super 8 begins in Macau". Asia League. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  10. ↑ Dy, Rchard (10 June 2020). "EASL head hopes for PBA participation in Terrific 12 in September". ESPN5. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "East Asia Super League basketball competition to debut in 2021". newsd. Newsd Media Pvt Ltd. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020. Unfortunately, the 2020 tournament, scheduled to be held in Macao in September, was canceled earlier this month due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  12. ↑ "FIBA and East Asia Super League enter multi-year agreement to elevate club basketball in region". FIBA.basketball. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "East Asia Super League basketball competition to debut in 2021". newsd. Newsd Media Pvt Ltd. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Taljaard, Tobie (7 July 2020). "East Asia Super League basketball competition to debut in 2021". www.xinhuanet.com. Xinhua. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  15. ↑ Henson, Joaquin (3 September 2021). "EASL moving forward". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  16. ↑ Beltran, Nelson (5 November 2021). "PBA officially joins EASL". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Super League shakes up Asian hoops". China Daily. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Moura, Nelson (1 December 2021). "2022 East Asia Super League format to include new GBA basketball team franchise with local players". MacauBusiness.com. Macau News Agency. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "Ex-NBA stars and Hong Kong firm join forces to launch new league in Asia". South China Morning Post. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  20. ↑ Leyba, Olmin (27 September 2022). "EASL puts opener on hold". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  21. ↑ Ramos, Gerry (26 September 2022). "EASL's maiden home-and-away tournament cancelled". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 "East Asia Super League Debuts Season 1 of Premier Home-and-Away Pan-Regional League in 2022". East Asia Super League. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022. The newly formed Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes and the championship team from Chinese Taipei's P.LEAGUE+, are the Greater China representatives.
  23. ↑ "Anyang KGC win all-Korean final at East Asian club tournament". Korea JoongAng Daily. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "East Asia's basketball champion to be crowned at EASL Final Four in Cebu | EASL". www.easl.basketball. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  25. ↑ "EASL Champions Chiba Jets Celebrate a Perfect Season | EASL". www.easl.basketball. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  26. ↑ "Hiroshima Dragonflies and Ryukyu Golden Kings to represent Japan in EASL 2024-25 Season". www.easl.basketball. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "KCC Egis and KT Sonicboom to represent Korea in EASL 2024-25". www.easl.basketball. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  28. ↑ "New Taipei Kings' and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots' EASL groups decided | EASL". www.easl.basketball. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  29. ↑ "San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts to represent the Philippines in the EASL 2024-25 Season". www.easl.basketball. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  30. ↑ "Hong Kong Eastern to join region-wide professional basketball league". South China Morning Post. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  31. ↑ "Hiroshima Takes EASL Final Four 2025 Title, Edges Taoyuan". East Asia Super League. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  32. ↑ "EASL Adds Mongolia's 'The League' To 2025-26 Roster And Beyond". East Asia Super League. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  33. ↑ "EASL Confirms 12th Team for 2025–26 Season: Three B.LEAGUE Teams to Compete". East Asia Super League. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  34. ↑ "New Taipei Kings Qualify For 2025-26 EASL Season". East Asia Super League. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  35. ↑ "Hong Kong Eastern Qualify for 2025-26 EASL Season". East Asia Super League. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  36. ↑ "Macau Black Bears Qualify for 2025-26 EASL Season". East Asia Super League. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  37. ↑ "EASL Releases 2025-26 Season Schedule". East Asia Super League. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  38. ↑ "EASL Designated as Official Qualifier for Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia". East Asia Super League. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  39. ↑ "Utsunomiya Brex Win EASL Finals 2026 in Wire-To-Wire Fashion Over Taoyuan". East Asia Super League. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  40. ↑ "3 P. LEAGUE+ Teams Set For 2026-27 EASL Season". East Asia Super League. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "Hong Kong Eastern Qualifies For 2026-27 EASL Season". East Asia Super League. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  42. ↑ "Hou Chon Basketball Club Qualifies For 2026-27 EASL Season". East Asia Super League. 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  43. ↑ "EASL Confirmed as 2026-27 Qualifying Pathway to Basketball Champions League Asia". East Asia Super League. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  44. ↑ "EASL Welcomes MPBL Champions Abra Weavers For 2026–27 Season". East Asia Super League. 19 August 2026. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
  45. 1 2 "East Asia Super League wants to bring professional basketball team to Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  46. ↑ "EASL Announces Global Broadcast Partners for 2026-27 Season | EASL". EASL. Retrieved 3 October 2026.