Hong Kong Eastern is set to join the expanded East Asia Super League in October as club officials continue to aim to reach the highest level of basketball in the region.
The EASL's second full season was originally scheduled to feature eight teams, but with the addition of the Macau Black Bears, there will now be 10 clubs participating.
The remainder of the Elite League will begin on October 2nd, with two teams each from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
Eastern is scheduled to play its home games in Hong Kong, but a home court has yet to be decided as one possible site, Kai Tak Sports Park, will not be completed by the start of the season.
Club officials have been keen to expand their influence in the region as they doggedly push for qualification into the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), the top league in mainland China.
B.League's Chiba Jets were crowned EASL champions in March. Photo: EASL
“Hong Kong has worked hard to become a professional basketball team that can represent Hong Kong at the highest level,” Eastern's team leader Wilson Choi Fung-yue said. “We want to be a major force in Asian basketball and put Hong Kong on the map as a basketball powerhouse.”
Eastern, a three-time Hong Kong A1 Division champion, last won the title in 2023 and is accustomed to playing in regional basketball competitions, having previously competed in the now-defunct ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
Eastern won their first ABL title in their first appearance in the 2016-17 season, finishing first in the regular season standings and defeating the Singapore Slingers 3-1 in the final.
The next two ABL seasons ended in the semifinals, losing to Philippine franchises San Miguel Alab Pilipinas and the Slingers, respectively.
Eastern's final ABL season will be in 2023 and will be held in four cities – Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam – with Zeljko Pavličević's team finishing second in the standings before defeating Malaysia's NS Matrix Deers and Vietnam's Saigon Heat in the knockout stage to win the championship for the second time.
In April, Eastern topped their group in the Asian qualifiers for the Basketball Champions League, but Hong Kong finished bottom of the second round, losing all three games played later that month.
EASL co-founder and CEO Henry Kerins says the competition is just getting bigger and better. Photo: Handout
“EASL is getting bigger and better,” said league CEO Henry Kerins. “It has always been our ambition to expand, bring in more leagues and represent more parts of Asia.”
“We have accelerated our plans due to strong demand from regional leagues and their readiness to participate. Fans can expect some incredible competition as Eastern and the Black Bears take to the court to face off against our existing lineup.”
The Eastern Division has been placed in Group A along with Japan's B.League champions Hiroshima Dragonflies, Korea Basketball League (KBL) runners-up Suwon KT Sonic Booms, P.League+ runners-up Taoyuan Pauwian Pilots and PBA Governor's Cup champions San Miguel Beermen.
The Black Bears are in Group B with the B.League runners-up Ryukyu Golden Kings, KBL champions Busan KCC Aegis, P.League+ champions New Taipei Kings and PBA Philippine Cup champions Meral Cobolds.
