2023 East Asia Super League
| 2023 EASL season | |
|---|---|
| League | East Asia Super League |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | TBA |
| Number of teams | 8 |
The 2023 East Asia Super League will be the first 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 as well as a franchise team representing Greater China.[1][2]
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 season was postponed to 2023.[4] The tournament format is planned to be shortened. The EASL plans to hold the Champions Week in a single country from 1 to 5 March 2023.[5][6]
Team allocation
Four leagues are represented for the 2023 EASL. The champions and runners-up of the Japan B.League and the Korean Basketball League[7] as well as the champions of Taiwan's P. League+[8] Hong Kong based Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes, a franchise team not part of any domestic league will also participate. The league considers the P. League+ champions and the Phoenixes as representatives of "Greater China".[3]
For the Philippines, the top two finishing teams of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup qualified.[9] Initially, the Philippine allocation was unclear since the Philippine Basketball Association holds multiple conferences or tournaments across a single season. Among the plans considered include: drawing of lots among the top four PBA teams, forming a selection team, or entering the national team.[10][11]
Each team may have 12-men roster with two foreign players and an additional Asian player.[3]
| League | Country or Region | Berths |
|---|---|---|
| EASL (franchise team) |  Hong Kong |
1 |
| P. League+ |  Chinese Taipei |
1 |
| B.League |  Japan |
2 |
| Korean Basketball League |  South Korea |
2 |
| Philippine Basketball Association |  Philippines |
2 |
Qualified teams
| Team | Domestic league standing |
|---|---|
| Bay Area Dragons |
N/A (EASL franchise) |
| Taipei Fubon Braves |
2021–22 P. League+ champions |
| Utsunomiya Brex |
2021–22 B.League champions |
| Ryukyu Golden Kings |
2021–22 B.League runners-up |
| Seoul SK Knights |
2021–22 Korean Basketball League champions |
| Anyang KGC |
2021–22 Korean Basketball League runners-up |
| San Miguel Beermen |
2022 PBA Philippine Cup champions |
| TNT Tropang Giga |
2022 PBA Philippine Cup runners-up |
Preparation
Original draw and format
The official draw for the 2022–23 EASL season was held on 28 June 2022 at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila in Taguig.[12][13]
The teams 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][14] The identity of the Philippine representatives were yet to be determined at the time of the draw.
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.[15][3][16]
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Cancellation and Champions Week
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 will be held in Manila in early 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic was blamed for the cancellation.[17]
References
- ^ "EASL 2022–2023 Season". East Asia Super League. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Naredo, Camille (2 December 2021). "PBA wants to prove it is best in Asia through EASL". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "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.
- ^ "East Asia Super League Prepares to Update Season 1 Format". East Asia Super League. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (6 October 2022). "Bay Area Dragons unperturbed after EASL tournament shelved". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "PBA to adjust schedule for EASL's Champion's Week". Tiebreaker Times. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ "Super League shakes up Asian hoops". China Daily. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ "P.League+ winner to play in East Asian tournament – Taipei Times". Taipei Times. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Henson, Joaquin (16 June 2022). "EASL draw set in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "PBA won't rule out sending Gilas to maiden EASL tournament". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Henson, Joaquin (16 June 2022). "EASL draw set in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "EASL sets June 28 draw in Manila". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ "East Asia Super League unveils group draw for debut season". South China Morning Post. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Giongco, Mark (28 June 2022). "PBA Philippine Cup champion grouped with Taipei, Anyang, Ryukyu". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "East Asia Super League – EASL 2022–2023 Season". easl.basketball. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (17 August 2022). "Manila chosen as host for inaugural EASL Final Four". Spin.ph. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "'Champions Week' eyed as EASL cancels home-and-away season". Manila Bulletin. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
External links
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