The Group Stage will feature several marquee double-header events, including the EASL Tipoffopening games at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on Oct. 2 pitting San Miguel Beerman vs KT Sonicboom, followed by Meralco vs Macao Black Bears; and EASL’s Mid-Season Classic in Macau on December 11th matching up Taoyuan Pilots vs KT Sonicboom and Macao Black Bears vs New Taipei Kings.
SMB faces Korean club in EASL opener at MOA
Aug 21, 2024 07:34 AM
At a glance
East Asia Super League (EASL) unveiled its schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 Season today, posting 34 matchups across the region to decide East Asia’s club basketball champions.
The EASL 2024-25 Season will tip off Oct. 2 with an expanded Group Stage running until Feb. 12, 2025; followed by the four-game EASL Final Four championship weekend of March 7-9, 2025.
The Group Stage will feature several marquee double-header events, including the EASL Tipoff opening games at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on Oct. 2 pitting San Miguel Beerman vs KT Sonicboom, followed by Meralco vs Macao Black Bears; and EASL’s Mid-Season Classic in Macau on December 11th matching up Taoyuan Pilots vs KT Sonicboom and Macao Black Bears vs New Taipei Kings.
EASL just last week announced its expansion from 8 to 10 teams with the addition of new entrants Hong Kong Eastern and the Macau Black Bears. EASL, the leagues and teams all aligned that the round-robin home-and-away Group Stage would increase from 24 to 30 games.
The five Group A teams are 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) Governors’ Cup champion San Miguel Beermen, and the HKSAR champion Hong Kong Eastern.
The five Group B teams are 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.
Announcing the schedule, EASL CEO Henry Kerins said, “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. EASL is ‘Where Champions Clash’, the pinnacle of professional basketball in Asia.”
“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."