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Mike Chan

The East Asia Super League (EASL) will crown its new champions in Macau after finalising a deal to stage the play-offs there in March.
The top four teams in the league – two each from as many groups – will qualify for the semi-finals on March 7, with the two winners advancing to the championship game two days later.
The season-ending Final Four mini-tournament will be the second time this season a multi-game event has been held in the casino city, after the Studio City Event Centre – home to EASL side Macau Black Bears – hosted the Macau Classic last month.
“Macau’s modern infrastructure and passionate fan base make it the perfect destination to host this high-stakes event, and we can’t wait to see the energy it will bring to the region,” Henry Kerins, chief executive of the league, said.


Last month, the 4,150-seat arena staged matches involving New Taipei Kings of the new Taiwan Professional Basketball League, Taoyuan Pauian Pilots of the Taiwanese P. League+, South Korean outfit Suwon KT Sonicboom, and the Bears, as part of the regular season. The presence of former NBA player Jeremy Lin, who played for the Kings, led to a sold-out night.
The Japanese B.League’s reigning champions Hiroshima Dragonflies and runners-up Ryukyu Golden Kings have already sealed spots in the Final Four after topping their groups. They are aiming to succeed fellow Japanese club Chiba Jets as champions.
Hong Kong Eastern stayed in contention for the remaining spot in Group A on Wednesday with a 84-74 win over San Miguel Beermen at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, on the outskirts of Manila. Eastern must beat the Pilots in Taoyuan City next month to qualify.
In Group B, any of three teams – the Kings, the Bears and the Philippines Basketball Association’s Meralco Bolts – could still advance to the next stage, but South Korean team Busan KCC Egis were eliminated after they lost 89-78 to the Bears at home on Wednesday.
The EASL champions will pocket US$1 million (HK$7.79 million), the runners-up US$500,000 and the third-placed side US$250,000.
South Korean league teams Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters and Seoul SK Knights joined the Jets in the inaugural finals in the Philippines last March, but all three failed to qualify this time around.
That left the Kings as the only side who could make back-to-back appearances in the Final Four.


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Young Hong Kong basketball players to get elite coaching in EASL’s Future Champions plan

South China bringing back some old hands as they start Champions League Asia campaign

Third title has Hong Kong Eastern eyeing greater basketball test in regional competition

East Asia Super League

Macau to host EASL championship play-offs, season’s second multi-game event in casino city

Eastern’s Christopher McLaughlin (right) vies with Jabari Narcis of San Miguel Beermen as the two sides met for their EASL clash in the Philippines. Photo: Xinhua

Kobey Lam (left) tussles with San Miguel Beermen’s Jeron Teng during their EASL clash in the Philippines. Photo: Xinhua

The mid-season EASL Macau Classic was held at the Studio City Event Centre. Photo: EASL

Why NBA, tennis could bypass Hong Kong despite its new HK$30 billion Kai Tak Sports Park

Kai Tak Sports Park occupies a prime position beside Hong Kong’s harbour, as seen from inside the main stadium. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong pop groups Mirror and Error perform at Kai Tak Arena last month to test the new facility. Photo: Nora Tam

Kai Tak’s main stadium is designed to stage sports such as rugby and football. Photo: Nora Tam

Kai Tak Arena has 10,000 seats, but its ceiling is lower than basketball and tennis rules require. Photo: Sam Tsang

East Asia Super League: Bay Area Dragons boss questions Hong Kong ‘culture’ as he looks to Macau for new home

Bay Area Dragons import Andrew Nicholson (left) in action against San Miguel Beermen. Photo: EASL

Hong Kong basketball star Duncan Reid says he would love for the team to be based in Hong Kong. Photo: EASL 

Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Macau for first time in 10 years on November 23

Hong Kong-based Brazilian Alberto Mina (left) defeated Japan’s Shinsho Anzai in a welterweight bout in August 2014, when a UFC event was last held in Macau. Photo: Getty Images

UFC’s rise in popularity has produced the sport’s first Chinese champion in Zhang Weili (right, in action against compatriot Yan Xiaonan). Photo: AFP

Sport

Basketball

East Asia Super League agrees a deal for Macau to stage the season-ending Final Four mini-tournament in March


East Asia Super League agrees a deal for Macau to stage the season-ending Final Four mini-tournament in March.


Macau to host EASL championship play-offs, season’s second multi-game event in casino city

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}East Asia Super League agrees a deal for Macau to stage the season-ending Final Four mini-tournament in March

East Asia Super League agrees a deal for Macau to stage the season-ending Final Four mini-tournament in March