2023–24 East Asia Super League

The 2023–24 East Asia Super League is the second regular season of the East Asia Super League, an international basketball club competition involving teams from domestic leagues in Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Taiwan.[1][2] The season started on 11 October 2023, and will end on 10 March 2024.

East Asia Super League
Season2023–24
Duration11 October 2023 – 10 March 2024
Number of games4
Number of teams8
Records
Biggest home winAnyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters 98–77 Taipei Fubon Braves
(25 October 2023)
Biggest away winTaipei Fubon Braves 82–85 Chiba Jets
(18 October 2023)
Highest scoringAnyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters 98–77 Taipei Fubon Braves
(25 October 2023)
Highest attendance5,526
Ryukyu Golden Kings 80–79 Seoul SK Knights
(18 October 2023)
Lowest attendance1,022
Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters 98–77 Taipei Fubon Braves
(25 October 2023)
Total attendance14104
Average attendance3526

Originally set to be held from 12 October 2022 to February 2023 under a in home and away format and a Final Four knockout stage,[3] the start of the EASL regular season was postponed to October 2023.[4][5]

The 2023 EASL Champions Week was organized in March as a pre-season tournament.[5] The tournament was retroactively considered as the EASL's first season. The 2023–24 season is tagged by the organizers as its second season.[6]

Team allocation

Four leagues are represented for the 2023–24 EASL, namely the champions and runners-up of the Japanese B.League, the Korean Basketball League, the Philippine Basketball Association, and the Taiwanese P. League+.[7][8]

Prior to the postponement of the season, each of the top two finishing teams of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup, 2021–22 B.League season, 2021–22 Korean Basketball League, and the champions of the 2021–22 P. League+ season qualified.[9] Initially, the Philippine allocation was unclear since the Philippine Basketball Association holds multiple conferences or tournaments across a single season. Among the possibilities were drawing of lots among the top four PBA teams, forming a selection team or entering the national team.[10][11] Champions San Miguel Beermen and runners-up TNT Tropang Giga qualified for the EASL season.

However, the PBA later decided that the top two finishing teams of the already finished 2023 PBA Governors' Cup, namely TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, will qualify instead.[12] Furthermore, Barangay Ginebra withdrew for undisclosed reasons and were replaced by semifinalists Meralco Bolts shortly prior to the start of the league.[13]

It was also determined that the qualified teams from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are based from the 2022–23 season instead of the 2021–22 season.[14] The qualified teams remained largely the same; Utsunomiya Brex originally qualified under the old format. The Chiba Jets qualified instead.

Hong Kong based Chun Yu Bay Area Dragons, a franchise team, were also expected participate. However, the EASL announced the Dragons' disbandment on 1 September 2023 reportedly due to financial reasons.[15] They were later replaced by the 2022–23 P. League+ runners-up New Taipei Kings.[16][17]

The league considers the P. League+ teams as the representatives of the "Greater China".[3]

Each team may have 12-men roster with two foreign players and an additional Asian player.[3]

LeagueCountry or regionBerths
Franchise team Hong Kong1 0
P. League+ Chinese Taipei1+1
B.League Japan2
Korean Basketball League South Korea2
Philippine Basketball Association Philippines2

Qualified teams
TeamDomestic league standing
Hong Kong Chun Yu Bay Area Dragons[lower-alpha 1]N/A (EASL franchise)
Chinese Taipei Taipei Fubon Braves2022–23 P. League+ champions
Chinese Taipei New Taipei Kings2022–23 P. League+ runners-up
Japan Ryukyu Golden Kings2022–23 B.League champions
Japan Chiba Jets2022–23 B.League runners-up
South Korea Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters2022–23 Korean Basketball League champions
South Korea Seoul SK Knights2022–23 Korean Basketball League runners-up
Philippines TNT Tropang Giga2023 PBA Governors' Cup champions
Philippines Meralco Bolts[lower-alpha 2]2023 PBA Governors' Cup semifinalist

Preparation

Original draw and format

The initial official draw for the 2022–23 EASL season was held on 28 June 2022 at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila in Taguig.[18][19]

The teams initially were drawn in two groups. A coin flipping mechanic were used; each champion in each domestic league were made to choose a coin side. The winner of the coin flip were placed on Group A while the other placed in Group B.[9][20]

Each club was to play all the other clubs twice in home and away matches starting from 12 October 2022 to February 2023, with two EASL Group Stage games taking place every Wednesday night.[3] The final four were to be play in a venue in Metro Manila in the Philippines in March 2023.[21][3][22]

Postponement and resumption

A few weeks before the supposed opening day, the league announced the cancellation of the home and away season, instead pushing through with a "Champions Week" that was initially announced to be held in Manila in early 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic was blamed for the cancellation.[23] Japan was later named the host country for this event.[24] The original groups for the postponed season were also the groupings for the Champions Week.

A new draw was held for the EASL season on 21 June 2023.[14]

Champions Week
Main article: 2023 EASL Champions Week

In December, EASL announced that the Champions Week will be hosted by the qualifying Japanese teams, with the Utsunomiya Brex hosting the first six games, while the Ryukyu Golden Kings hosting the last six games at the Okinawa Arena.[24] The Champions Week would be tagged as a "special tournament" which would proceed the start of the inaugural season proper.[5]

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Japan Chiba Jets 2 2 0 178 157 +21 4 Semifinals
2 South Korea Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters 1 1 0 98 77 +21 2
3 Philippines TNT Tropang Giga 1 0 1 75 93 −18 1
4 Chinese Taipei Taipei Fubon Braves 2 0 2 159 183 −24 2
Updated to match(es) played on 25 October 2023. Source: EASL

11 October 2023 Chiba Jets Japan 93–75 Philippines TNT Tropang Giga Funabashi
19:00 (JST) Scoring by quarter: 21–22, 24–22, 26–12, 22–19
Pts: Brown, Stephens 19
Rebs: Brown 12
Asts: Ogawa 6		 Boxscore Pts: Miller 22
Rebs: Hollis-Jefferson 9
Asts: Hollis-Jefferson, Montalbo 5		 Arena: Funabashi Arena
Attendance: 3,667
18 October 2023 Taipei Fubon Braves Chinese Taipei 82–850(OT) Japan Chiba Jets Taipei
19:00 (TST) Scoring by quarter: 20–15, 22–14, 13–18, 19–27, Overtime: 8–11
Pts: Singletary 29
Rebs: Singletary 18
Asts: Barefield, Singletary 4		 Boxscore Pts: Togashi 38
Rebs: Mutts 12
Asts: Togashi 7		 Arena: National Taiwan University Sports Center
Attendance: 3,889
25 October 2023 Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters South Korea 98–77 Chinese Taipei Taipei Fubon Braves Anyang
19:00 (KST) Scoring by quarter: 31–17, 29–23, 17–23, 21–14
Pts: Bae 18
Rebs: Monroe 9
Asts: Monroe 10		 Boxscore Pts: Barefield, Johnson 18
Rebs: Johnson 9
Asts: Johnson 6		 Arena: Anyang Gymnasium
Attendance: 1,022
1 November 2023 TNT Tropang Giga Philippines vs. Japan Chiba Jets Santa Rosa
19:00 (PST)
Boxscore Arena: City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex
15 November 2023 Taipei Fubon Braves Chinese Taipei vs. Philippines TNT Tropang Giga Taipei
19:00 (TST)
Boxscore Arena: Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium
6 December 2023 Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters South Korea vs. Philippines TNT Tropang Giga Anyang
19:00 (KST)
Boxscore Arena: Anyang Gymnasium
13 December 2023 Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters South Korea vs. Japan Chiba Jets Anyang
19:00 (KST)
Boxscore Arena: Anyang Gymnasium
20 December 2023 TNT Tropang Giga Philippines vs. Chinese Taipei Taipei Fubon Braves
19:00 (PST)
Boxscore
27 December 2023 Chiba Jets Japan vs. Chinese Taipei Taipei Fubon Braves Funabashi
19:00 (JST)
Boxscore Arena: Funabashi Arena
10 January 2024 Chiba Jets Japan vs. South Korea Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters Funabashi
19:00 (JST)
Boxscore Arena: Funabashi Arena
24 January 2024 TNT Tropang Giga Philippines vs. South Korea Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters Pasig
19:00 (PST)
Boxscore Arena: PhilSports Arena
7 February 2024 Taipei Fubon Braves Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters Taipei
19:00 (TST)
Boxscore Arena: Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Japan Ryukyu Golden Kings 1 1 0 80 79 +1 2 Semifinals
2 South Korea Seoul SK Knights 1 0 1 79 80 −1 1
3 Philippines Meralco Bolts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Chinese Taipei New Taipei Kings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 18 October 2023. Source: EASL

18 October 2023 Ryukyu Golden Kings Japan 80–79 South Korea Seoul SK Knights Okinawa
19:00 (JST) Scoring by quarter: 27–20, 12–20, 22–18, 19–21
Pts: Imamura 18
Rebs: Law 13
Asts: Law 6		 Boxscore Pts: Warney 39
Rebs: Warney, Williams 10
Asts: Oh J. 5		 Arena: Okinawa Arena
Attendance: 5,526
1 November 2023 Seoul SK Knights South Korea vs. Japan Ryukyu Golden Kings Goyang
19:00 (KST)
Boxscore Arena: Goyang Sono Arena
8 November 2023 New Taipei Kings Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea Seoul SK Knights New Taipei City
19:00 (TST)
Boxscore Arena: Xinzhuang Gymnasium
15 November 2023 Ryukyu Golden Kings Japan vs. Philippines Meralco Bolts Okinawa
19:00 (JST)
Boxscore Arena: Okinawa Arena
29 November 2023 New Taipei Kings Chinese Taipei vs. Philippines Meralco Bolts New Taipei City
19:00 (TST)
Boxscore Arena: Xinzhuang Gymnasium
13 December 2023 Meralco Bolts Philippines vs. Japan Ryukyu Golden Kings Pasig
19:00 (PST)
Boxscore Arena: PhilSports Arena
27 December 2023 Meralco Bolts Philippines vs. South Korea Seoul SK Knights Pasig
19:00 (PST)
Boxscore Arena: PhilSports Arena
3 January 2024 Meralco Bolts Philippines vs. Chinese Taipei New Taipei Kings Pasig
19:00 (PST)
Boxscore Arena: PhilSports Arena
10 January 2024 New Taipei Kings Chinese Taipei vs. Japan Ryukyu Golden Kings New Taipei City
19:00 (TST)
Boxscore Arena: Xinzhuang Gymnasium
24 January 2024 Ryukyu Golden Kings Japan vs. Chinese Taipei New Taipei Kings Okinawa
19:00 (JST)
Boxscore Arena: Okinawa Arena
31 January 2024 Seoul SK Knights South Korea vs. Chinese Taipei New Taipei Kings Seoul
19:00 (KST)
Boxscore Arena: Jamsil Students' Gymnasium
7 February 2024 Seoul SK Knights South Korea vs. Philippines Meralco Bolts Seoul
19:00 (KST)
Boxscore Arena: Jamsil Students' Gymnasium

Final round

Semifinals
8 March 2024 A1 vs. B2
8 March 2024 B1 vs. A2

Third place game
10 March 2024 SF1 loser vs. SF2 loser

Final
10 March 2024 SF1 winner vs. SF2 winner

Notes
  1. Disbanded prior to the start of the season.
  2. Replaced 2023 PBA Governor's Cup runners-up Barangay Ginebra San Miguel

References
  1. "EASL 2022–2023 Season". East Asia Super League. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  2. Naredo, Camille (2 December 2021). "PBA wants to prove it is best in Asia through EASL". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  3. "East Asia Super League Debuts Season 1 of Premier Home-and-Away Pan-Regional League in 2022". East Asia Super League. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022. The newly formed Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes and the championship team from Chinese Taipei's P.LEAGUE+, are the Greater China representatives.
  4. "East Asia Super League Prepares to Update Season 1 Format". East Asia Super League. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  5. "EASL secures US$40m to fund expansion, CEO Bayer talks up 'bullish' outlook". South China Morning Post. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  6. "East Asia Super League to return with new format for second season". Korea JoongAng Daily. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  7. "Super League shakes up Asian hoops". China Daily. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  8. "P.League+ winner to play in East Asian tournament – Taipei Times". Taipei Times. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  9. Henson, Joaquin (16 June 2022). "EASL draw set in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. "PBA won't rule out sending Gilas to maiden EASL tournament". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. Henson, Joaquin (16 June 2022). "EASL draw set in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  12. Garcia, John Mark (22 May 2023). "TNT, Ginebra slated to play in EASL tournament in October". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  13. Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (15 September 2023). "Meralco takes Ginebra's slot in EASL". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  14. "East Asia Super League Season 2 groups set at draw ceremony in Hong Kong". easl.basketball. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  15. Li, Matthew (1 September 2023). "EASL disbands Bay Area Dragons ahead of PBA Comm's Cup". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  16. "EASL enhances partnership with P. League+ and welcomes league's runner-up team to first home-and-away season". easl.basketball. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  17. Ramos, Gerry (5 September 2023). "EASL welcomes New Taipei Kings after Bay Area Dragons disbandment". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  18. "EASL sets June 28 draw in Manila". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  19. "East Asia Super League unveils group draw for debut season". South China Morning Post. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  20. Giongco, Mark (28 June 2022). "PBA Philippine Cup champion grouped with Taipei, Anyang, Ryukyu". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  21. "East Asia Super League – EASL 2022–2023 Season". easl.basketball. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  22. Ramos, Gerry (17 August 2022). "Manila chosen as host for inaugural EASL Final Four". Spin.ph. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. "'Champions Week' eyed as EASL cancels home-and-away season". Manila Bulletin. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  24. "East Asia Super League to begin with Champions Week in Japan". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
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