Upcoming season or competition: 2025–26 East Asia Super League | |
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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| First season | 2023–24 |
| Motto | Your Game[1] |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country |  Chinese Taipei Hong Kong Japan Macau Mongolia Philippines South Korea |
| Continent | FIBA Asia (Asia) |
| Most recent champion | Hiroshima Dragonflies (1st title) |
| Most titles | Chiba JetsHiroshima Dragonflies (1 each)[a] |
| Official website | easl |
| East Asia Super League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 東亞超級聯賽 | ||
| Simplified Chinese | 东亚超级联赛 | ||
| |||
TheEast Asia Super League[b] (EASL) is an internationalbasketballleague featuring clubs fromJapan,South Korea,Philippines,Taiwan (Chinese Taipei),Hong Kong, andMacau.
From 2017 to 2019, four pre-season tournaments (the Super 8 and the Terrific 12) were organized by EASL, featuring clubs from selected professional basketball leagues in the region.
With official backing fromFIBA Asia, EASL has made a transition towards a full-fledged league. The first such season commenced in 2023 and feature eight teams. This was expanded to ten teams for the 2024–25 season, and expanded to twelve teams for the 2025–26 season.
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'sLas 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 theCBA (China),B.League (Japan),KBL (South Korea),PBA (Philippines),SBL (Taiwan), and theABL (Southeast Asia, China, and Taiwan).[5]
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 theStudio City Event Centre in Macau.[7] The competing teams in attendance were theZhejiang Guangsha Lions,Shenzhen Aviators (formerly Shenzhen Leopards),Goyang Orions,Seoul Samsung Thunders,Fubon Braves,Pauian Archiland,Chiba Jets, andRyukyu Golden Kings.
Organizers initially dubbed the tournament as the "Asia League," but this led to a legal dispute withFIBA over the name of the league when FIBA deemed the tournament's branding and marketing to be in conflict with its ownFIBA 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 ofQuinn Emanuel's Thomas Werlen, who has represented FIFA in investigations of theUnited States Department of Justice.[3]
The inaugural Super 8 tournament was won by theChiba Jets of the JapaneseB. 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 theMacau East Asian Games Dome,[9] and featured the introduction of two professional club teams from the PBA, theNLEX Road Warriors andBlackwater Elite. The eight competing teams in attendance were theGuangzhou Loong Lions,Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Seoul Samsung Thunders,Incheon Electroland Elephants, NLEX Road Warriors, Blackwater Elite,Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka, andFormosa Dreamers. The Guangzhou Loong Lions won first place, while the Seoul Samsung Thunders took second place and the Incheon Electroland Elephants placed third.
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 theShandong 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 theTap Seac Multi-Sports Pavilion inMacau from September 17–22. The competing teams were theLiaoning 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 andSan Miguel Beermen.
Terrific 12 (2019) also featured the EASL debut of former NBA player and CBA importLance 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic.[11]
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] thePhilippine Basketball Association,[16] theKorean Basketball League[17] (South Korea), and theB.League[17] (Japan) committed to send teams for the EASL. TheBay 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 asMetta Sandiford-Artest,Baron Davis andShane Battier in December 2021 reportedly invested in the EASL.[19]
The launch of the EASL would be hindered by theCOVID-19 pandemic,[20] with plans to hold its inaugural home-and-away tournament in 2022 cancelled.[21]
In place of the cancelled 2022 home-and-away tournament, the2023 EASL Champions Week would be organized. It was originally meant as a pre-season tournament for the2023–24 season.[22]Anyang KGC were the first champions.[23]
With theCOVID-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'sB.League (Ryukyu Golden Kings andChiba Jets), South Korea's KBL (Anyang KGC andSeoul SK Knights), Chinese Taipei'sP. League+ (Taipei Fubon Braves andNew Taipei Kings) got a berth for the2023–24 season. The Philippines'PBA was represented by2023 PBA Commissioner's Cup champions,TNT Tropang Giga and semifinalists,Meralco Bolts.
The 2023 B.League runner-upChiba 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, theSeoul SK Knights defeated Korean-counterpartAnyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in a tightly contest battle, advancing to the 2024 EASL Final Four Championship Game. TheChiba Jets stayed undefeated following a win against theNew Taipei Kings.
In the Championship Game, theChiba Jets defeatedSeoul 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]
The 2024 B.League championsHiroshima Dragonflies and runners-upRyukyu 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+ championsNew Taipei Kings and runners-upTaoyuan Pauian Pilots represented Chinese Taipei.[28] The2024 PBA Philippine Cup championsMeralco Bolts and2024 PBA Commissioner's Cup championsSan Miguel Beermen represented the Philippines.[29]
For the expansion teams, representing Hong Kong wasHong Kong Eastern, while theMacau Black Bears represented Macau.[30]
In the Championship Game, theHiroshima Dragonflies defeatedTaoyuan Pauian Pilots,72-68, winning the2024–25 season championship. AndDwayne Evans was named as 2025 EASL Final Four Most Valuable Player.[31]
On January 24, 2025, the EASL announced that the 2024-25 season champion ofThe League will represent Mongolia to join2025–26 EASL season.[32] On May 13, the EASL announced that the 2025 Emperor’s Cup champion will join 2025–26 EASL season.[c] On July 24, the EASL announced thatNew Taipei Kings will join 2025–26 EASL season.[34] On July 28, the EASL announced that the group stage would change to three group. The top two teams from each group advanced to playoffs.[35]
The East Asia Super League starting from the2023 EASL Champions Week is represented by teams from selected domestic leagues.[36]
The league considers the franchise team and theP. League+ championship team of Taiwan as representatives of "Greater China".[22]
Starting from the 2025–26 season, the league represented are as follow:
| League | Country or region | Berth(s) |
|---|---|---|
| B.League | Japan | 3 |
| Korean Basketball League | South Korea | 2 |
| P. League+ | Chinese Taipei[d] | 2 |
| Philippine Basketball Association | Philippines | 1 |
| The League | Mongolia | 1 |
| Other | Chinese Taipei[d] | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 1 | |
| Macau | 1 |
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, theBay Area Dragons.[36]
| Country or region | League |
|---|---|
 China | Chinese Basketball Association |
| Chinese Taipei[d] | Super Basketball League |
| Japan | B.League |
| South Korea | Korean Basketball League |
| Philippines | Philippine Basketball Association |
| None (selection team) | |
| Hong Kong | None (franchise team) |
| Year | Tournament | Final | Third and fourth place | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winners | Score | Second place | Third place | Score | Fourth place | ||||||||
| Asia League (2017–2018) | |||||||||||||
| 2017 | Super 8 | Chiba Jets | 83–73 | Zhejiang Guangsha Lions | Goyang Orions | 88–71 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | ||||||
| 2018 | Super 8 | Guangzhou Loong Lions | 78–72 | Seoul Samsung Thunders | Incheon Electroland Elephants | 67–62 | NLEX Road Warriors | ||||||
| The Terrific 12 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | 85–76 | Guangzhou Loong Lions | Seoul Samsung Thunders | 105–92 | Nagoya Diamond Dolphins | |||||||
| East Asia Super League (2019–2023) | |||||||||||||
| 2019 | The Terrific 12 | Liaoning Flying Leopards | 83–82 | Seoul SK Knights | Zhejiang Lions | 91–89 | San Miguel Beermen | ||||||
| 2020 | The 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 | Anyang KGC | 90–84 | Seoul SK Knights | Bay Area Dragons | 90–70 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | ||||||
| No. | Year | Final Four hosts | Final | Third and fourth place | No. of teams | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winners | Score | Second place | Third place | Score | Fourth place | |||||||
| 1 | 2023–24 Details | Philippines | Chiba Jets | 72–69 | Seoul SK Knights | Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters | 78–76 | New Taipei Kings | 8 | |||
| 2 | 2024–25 Details | Macau | Hiroshima Dragonflies | 84–80 | Taoyuan Pauian Pilots | New Taipei Kings | 72–68 | Ryukyu Golden Kings | 10 | |||
| 3 | 2025–26 Details |  TBA | To be determined | To be determined | 12 | |||||||
| Nation |  Gold |  Silver |  Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| China | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| South Korea | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
As of the 2024–25 season[37]
| Country/region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Worldwide | Courtside 1891 |
| DAZN | |
| Facebook Watch | |
 Brunei | Astro |
 Malaysia | |
| China | Various television / OTT streaming services |
| Hong Kong | HOY TV |
 Indonesia | Emtek |
| Japan | U-Next |
| South Korea | CJ ENM |
| Macau | TDM |
| Macau Cable | |
 Maldives | ICE Network |
| Middle East and North Africa | Etisalat |
 Myanmar | Sky Net |
| Philippines | One Sports |
| Pilipinas Live | |
 Singapore | StarHub TV |
 Taiwan | Videoland |
 Thailand | TrueVisions |
 Vietnam | K+ |
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.
The newly formed Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes and the championship team from Chinese Taipei's P.LEAGUE+, are the Greater China representatives.
