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Mike Chan

Hong Kong Eastern will join an expanded East Asia Super League in October, as club officials continue their bid to reach the highest level of basketball in the region.
Originally expected to have eight teams, the second full season of the EASL will now boast 10 clubs, with Macau Black Bears also committing to the competition.
Two sides each from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines will make up the rest of the elite league, which tips off on October 2.
Eastern are expected to play their home games in Hong Kong but a home court has yet to be finalised, given that Kai Tak Sports Park, one of the potential venues, will not be ready when the season starts.
Club officials have been keen to expand their influence in the region, amid persistent efforts to land a slot in mainland China’s top-tier Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league.

“Hong Kong has been striving hard for a professional basketball team to represent the city at the highest level,” said Wilson Choi Fong-yue, team leader of Eastern. “We want to be a major force in Asian basketball and to put Hong Kong on the map as a basketball powerhouse.”
Three-time Hong Kong A1 Division champion Eastern, who last won their title in 2023, are no strangers to playing in regional basketball competitions, having previously competed in the now-disbanded Asean Basketball League (ABL).
Eastern won their first ABL title on their debut appearance in the 2016-17 season, finishing atop the regular season table before defeating the Singapore Slingers 3-1 in the final.
Their next two ABL seasons ended at the semi-final stage, losing to Filipino franchise San Miguel Alab Pilipinas and the Slingers, respectively.
Eastern’s final season in the ABL – played over four stops in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam – was in 2023, when Zeljko Pavlicevic’s side finished second in the standings before defeating NS Matrix Deers of Malaysia and Vietnamese outfit Saigon Heat in the knockout stages to win the title for the second time.
In April, Eastern topped their group at the Basketball Champions League Asia qualifying rounds but the Hong Kong representative finished bottom in the second round, losing all three matches later that month.

“EASL is getting bigger and it’s getting better,” Henry Kerins, the league CEO said. “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 … fans are in for incredible clashes as Eastern and Black Bears take to the court against our existing line-up.”
Eastern has been placed in Group A alongside Japanese B. LEAGUE champion Hiroshima Dragonflies, Korean Basketball League (KBL) runners-up the Suwon KT Sonicboom, P. LEAGUE+ runners-up the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and PBA Governors’ Cup champion the San Miguel Beermen.
The Black Bears are in Group B with 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.


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FIBA (International Basketball Federation)

Hong Kong Eastern under Zeljko Pavlicevic won the Asean Basketball League in their final season in that competition. Photo: Hong Kong Eastern

B. League outfit Chiba Jets were crowned EASL champions in March. Photo: EASL

EASL co-founder and CEO Henry Kerins says the competition is getting bigger and better. Photo: Handout

East Asia Super League wooing Chinese basketball but will succeed regardless, boss says

B League side Chiba Jets were crowned champions in March. Photo: EASL

Chiba Jets celebrate after beating Seoul SK Knights in the Final Four championship game in March. Photo: Handout

Henry Kerins, co-founder and CEO of EASL. Photo: EASL

East Asia Super League still eyeing spot among basketball elite, says chief, who believes China clubs hold key to growth

Park Ji-hoon of Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in action against New Taipei Kings in the third-place play-off. Photo: Handout

EASL co-founder and CEO Henry Kerins expects expect to break even in season 2026-27. Photo: EASL

Chiba Jets were crowned champions after beating Seoul SK Knights in the Philippines. Photo: EASL

Jeremy Lin and brother Joseph clinch win for New Taipei Kings in first professional basketball game as teammates

Joseph Lin (left) chipped in 21 points to help the Kings defeat the Knights. Photo: Handout

Jeremy Lin (centre) finished the game with 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Photo: Handout

Jameel Warney (right) contributed more to than half of the Knights’ final score with 45 points. Photo: Handout

Jeremy Lin joins brother Joseph at New Taipei Kings, says move ‘a dream come true’

Jeremy Lin (left) and his younger brother Joseph at a pre-game ceremony ahead of a match between their sides in the P League+ last season. Photo: Handout

Sport

Basketball

China

Hong Kong

Hong Kong team and Macau Black Bears will join teams from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Philippines for EASL second season


Hong Kong team and Macau Black Bears will join teams from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Philippines for East Asian Super League’s second season.


East Asia Super League

CBA (Chinese Basketball Association)