On December 1, 2021, the East Asian Super League (EASL) officially announced in Hong Kong SAR, China, that it will usher in the opening match of the new home-and-away format of this pan-regional event in October 2022, with eight participating teams from the Japan Men's Basketball Professional League (B League), the Korean Men's Basketball Professional League (KBL), the Philippine Men's Basketball Professional League (PBA), and the Chinese Taipei Men's Basketball Professional League (P. LEAGUE+) and the top clubs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
Matt Beyer, CEO of the Eastern Super League, said: "With the support of long-term contracts with FIBA and asia's top leagues, the Eastern Super League is proud to become the hub of East Asian basketball in the future, bringing together the best professional basketball clubs in the region and bringing the best games to everyone. The mission of the Eastern Super League is to become the premier basketball league in Asia, and we aim to become the top three basketball leagues in the world in terms of fan base and commercial revenue by 2025. ”
"In the spirit of developing basketball and attaching great importance to the competition between the world's top clubs, FIBA and the Asian Basketball Federation will fully support the preparation and development of the Eastern Super League." FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said, "Over the past few years, we have witnessed the continued development of the Eastern Super League and the top events and events hosted by it, and FIBA has completed a groundbreaking long-term cooperation agreement with the Eastern Basketball League to create another dynamic competitive platform for men's basketball players in East Asia. ”
The first home-and-away season of the Eastern Super League involved 8 club teams, with a total of 12 players each participating, including 2 foreign aides and 1 Asian foreign aid. The last season champions and runners-up of the Japan B-League, South Korea KBL and philippine PBA will directly qualify for the Eastern Super League, while the newly formed Jinyu Phoenix of the Bay Area of Hong Kong, China, and P. Lee from Taipei, China. The champion team of LEAGUE+ will join forces to represent Greater China.
It is reported that the 8 teams participating in this event will be divided into 2 groups, each group of 4 teams, in the form of a round robin format group stage. Between October 2022 and February 2023, each team will play home and away matches with the remaining three teams in the same group, with a total of 6 rounds in each group, for a total of 24 group stage matches. There will be 2 races every Wednesday night. The top 2 teams in each group will advance to the Round of 4 and qualify for the Round of 4 and Championships in March 2023.
The Final Four showdown will take place on weekends, along with a music festival and a variety of fan interaction events. The location of the Round of 4 will change every year, with the region's premier metropolis preferred.
In addition, in the third season of the Eastern Super League, the number of participating teams will increase to 16, and it may be expanded to more regions and other professional basketball leagues in the future.
It is worth noting that the newly established Jinyu Phoenix Club in the Bay Area will represent greater China in the Eastern Super League. With the support of FIBA and the Basketball Association of Hong Kong, bay area Jinyu Phoenix Club will be given the opportunity to communicate with the top teams in East Asia and even the world. The team will bring together top players from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taipei, China, as well as two foreign players and one Asian foreign player, making it one of the most competitive teams in Greater China.
"The B-League has strategic development plans not only in Japan, but also in the region as a whole. We believe that the partnership with the Eastern Super League will help B.LEAGUE expand its market in Asia, and participation in the East Asian Premier League will also help to greatly improve the level of professional basketball in Japan." Japan's B League president Shinji Shimada said.
"The KBL League warmly welcomes its long-term partnership with the Eastern Super League. Now that it is a globalized world, international competition and exchange will improve the level of basketball among Korean players. Kim Hee-yu, chairman of Kbl in South Korea, said, "We look forward to the Eastern Super League becoming the strongest club league in Asia to meet the needs and expectations of Korean fans." ”
At the same time, Dongchao has also received investment from many international basketball celebrities and well-known investors, including brand ambassadors and strategic consulting. People and institutions include former NBA All-Stars Baron Davis, Metta World Peace and famous agent Bill Duffy, as well as blue-chip organizations such as Raine Group, which focus on sports investment, as well as top family businesses and individuals in Asia.
Hagop Khajirian, secretary general of the Asian Basketball Federation, said: "We see the Eastern Super League as a positive driving force for the healthy commercialization of basketball in Asia, where fans can enjoy the basketball league in the region and also experience the top basketball feast in the world, which will surely help improve the level of basketball in East Asia." ”
"As the oldest professional basketball league in Asia, PBA league and enthusiastic Filipino fans have an irrepressible desire for the world's top basketball game." Ricky Vargas, chairman of the PhilippineS PBA League Council, said, "Our top teams and players are excited to have the opportunity to play against the strongest teams in East Asia through the Eastern Super League every week, and everyone is eager to prove themselves through such exciting competition." ”
"Our fans love high-level basketball and can never be satisfied." P. P. of Taipei, China League+ League CEO Chen Jianzhou said, "For P. League+ is a good platform for P.S. to grow and grow through the highest intensity of competition. League+ improves elite basketball while also allowing P. League+ teams can gain more exposure on the pan-regional stage. ”
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