The landmark event brought together some of the region’s most promising young players from Cebu City, Macau and Hong Kong, giving them the opportunity to represent their markets, sharpen their skills against top competition and gain recognition on EASL’s international stage while competing for the first-ever EASL Future Champions Elite Championship.

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Cebu City and Macau were each represented by 10 All-Stars selected following eight weeks of intensive EASL Future Champions Elite training and competition. They were joined by the champion and runner-up teams from the EASL Future Champions Hong Kong Elite Circuit Games, forming a four-team field featuring leading young talent from across the three markets.

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Team Cebu became the inaugural EASL Future Champions Elite champion after defeating Team Macau 61-52 in a thrilling championship game at Kai Tak Arena - Sports Hall. Kent Labitad led Cebu with 22 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Venz Luiz Nadela added 15 points and 16 rebounds. As the final seconds expired, Cebu’s bench rushed onto the court before the players celebrated with their coaches and families in the stands.

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“This tournament marks a brand-new endeavor, and HKFYG will continue to launch more high-quality sports events to impact more youth in the wider community,” said Alice Lui, Deputy Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. “I hope that young players will maintain a positive and determined mindset on and off the court, achieve personal growth, and carry their fiery spirit of challenging themselves to the global stage, shining brightly in international arenas.”

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“This first EASL Future Champions Elite Championship showed the extraordinary talent and potential of young players across the region,” said Henry Kerins, Chief Executive Officer of East Asia Super League. “Our goal is to give these players the coaching, competition and international exposure they need to take the next step in their basketball journeys. We are proud to create opportunities that can have a lasting impact on their lives both on and off the court.”

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Beyond the competition, the event featured public booths, interactive activities and merchandise stands, giving fans additional ways to engage throughout the weekend. Players, families, coaches and supporters came together at Kai Tak Arena – Sports Hall to celebrate youth basketball and the next generation of talent from across the region.

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The Hong Kong Jockey Club, through its Charities Trust, has committed funding to support a three-year Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Group’s “HKFYG Hustle 5” partners with the EASL Future Champions, which was launched in November 2025 by East Asia Super League, benefiting more than 32,000 people and over 660 coaches. The program operates through grassroots and elite development tracks, with the elite pathway providing advanced training, player selection, and international competition. The Hong Kong tournament marked the first international championship under the EASL Future Champions Elite program.

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The tournament represented a defining step forward for EASL Future Champions Elite. Through high-level coaching, sustained training, international competition and cultural exchange, the program is building a pathway for young players to leave their comfort zones, test themselves against the region’s best and take the next step in their basketball journeys.

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The experience will continue with an upcoming overseas exchange, where selected players from the EASL Future Champions program will travel abroad to train within the youth academy of a professional basketball team. Further details will be announced soon.

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