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Mike Chan

Hong Kong Eastern are expected to enter multiple regional basketball tournaments next season after becoming domestic champions for the third time in franchise history.
Securing the A1 Division crown earned the team a spot in the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCLA), while a third run in an expanded East Asia Super League (EASL) is also on the cards.
With the local league and Senior Shield running from August to March, the EASL from October to March and BCLA qualifiers starting April, the team faces a packed schedule.
“The outlook for the upcoming season is definitely exciting,” Adam Xu, the Eastern captain, said. “Anytime you can add higher-level competition into the season, I think it’s a great opportunity for players to develop.
“The local league, quite frankly, doesn’t have that many games, and the competition level varies, which is not ideal for the direction in which this club wants to move forward.”

In their previous two EASL seasons, Eastern did not make it past the group stage, but Xu believes his team were “competitive” against sides that had been together longer.
“One advantage for our opponents was that they could keep pretty much the entire same roster in the local competitions, and when they play EASL,” the veteran forward said.
“You could tell by the way they play with each other that they have this team chemistry that they developed over multiple seasons.”
Despite the opportunities to take on better teams, Xu does not believe that can “compensate” for the fact the talented young Hong Kong’s players in Eastern’s squad will miss out on the Asian Games this September.
“The Games itself is such a unique experience,” the 33-year-old said. “For the Asian Games, you get to experience not just the high-level competition between countries, but also get to be a part of something much bigger than yourself.
“So it’s unfortunate that the younger players won’t be experiencing that this year.”
Rookie forward Ivan Yang Bo-wen may have had designs on a place at that event, but was not going to let that detract from the “surreal feeling” of winning the league in his first season, or the excitement at what is to come.
“My biggest takeaway is experiencing what professional basketball is as a whole,” the 22-year-old said. “It took me a while to get acclimated to the training structure, but the help from the coaching staff and the more experienced players boosted my confidence and allowed me to be more open and active.
“It’s a great opportunity for us younger players on the team because it gives us a chance to play in the best competition in Asia and help gain experience.”
A third foray into the EASL will coincide with the league growing to 16 teams for the 2026-27 season, double the number from its inaugural 2023-24 season.
Henry Kerins, the league’s CEO, said a second team from Hong Kong could join the league.
Teams will be split into four groups of four, with the top two of each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The Final Four will take place a month later.


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

East Asia Super League

Hong Kong Eastern captain Adam Xu is looking forward to the challenge that awaits. Photo: Hong Kong Eastern

Rookie forward Ivan Yang chats to local media after his side’s A1 Division triumph. Photo: Hong Kong Eastern

Sport

Basketball

Hong Kong

Domestic champions looking to challenge some of Asia’s best after claiming A1 Division crown


Domestic champions looking to challenge some of Asia’s best after claiming A1 Division crown.


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

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Domestic champions looking to challenge some of Asia’s best after claiming A1 Division crown

Domestic champions looking to challenge some of Asia’s best after claiming A1 Division crown