East Asia Super League has earned the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia’s recognition and will run an annual league for the top professional clubs in East Asia and the Philippines.
EASL has entered a 10-year agreement with FIBA, and will launch its new competition in October 2021 — a month after the FIBA Asia Champions Cup — with teams from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, among others, expected to compete.
The first two tournaments are being held by EASL in 2021-22 and 2022-23. They will feature eight teams in a home-and-away group stage, with the Final Four set in February.
The EASL matches are slated to be integrated into the schedules of the participating professional leagues.
“The recognition of the East Asia Super League is based on a shown commitment to developing basketball in the region, and is in line with FIBA’s club competition strategy that is to shape international club competitions,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
“EASL has demonstrated a great operational capability to organize a high-level competition for top clubs, and a strong commitment to elevating the sport of basketball in East Asia within the FIBA regulatory framework for leagues,” said FIBA Asia Executive Director Hagop Khajirian.
“We are delighted to grant long-term recognition and support to the EASL as the exclusive platform of its kind in East Asia.”
The EASL has held four off-season tournaments over the past three years, featuring elite club teams from the top leagues in Asia.
“EASL is thrilled to receive FIBA’s support for the launch of our league. We also look forward to aligning with FIBA’s vision to strengthen domestic clubs and league competition in East Asia with a potential fan base of over two billion people, which will contribute to FIBA’s global club championship ambitions,” said EASL CEO Matt Beyer.
