Group B shapes up as this season’s “group of death.” Leading the pack are last year’s EASL runners-up, the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, who also claimed the P. LEAGUE+ (Chinese Taipei) championship. The Pilots are joined by another Final Four squad, the Ryukyu Golden Kings — reigning winners of Japan’s Emperor’s Cup.

The Meralco Bolts are back for a third straight season, returning much of their core while bolstering their lineup with major additions in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Gilas Pilipinas great Justin Brownlee. Rounding out the group are the Macau Black Bears, last year’s expansion side, now retooled and poised to be a sleeper contender.

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Here’s your first look at Group B:

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Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 

The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots exorcised the ghosts of 2023-24 by returning to the P. LEAGUE+ Finals and capturing their first championship. Still, they enter the 2025-26 EASL season hungry after last year’s heartbreaking runner-up finish.

Led by two-time P. LEAGUE+ MVP and All-EASL Team guard Lu Chun-Hsiang, the Pilots bring back key imports Treveon Graham and Alec Brown while also leaning on the continued rise of Li Chia-Kang, the league’s Sixth Man of the Year. 

Taoyuan opens the 2025-26 season at home against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Oct. 8. 

Taoyuan’s Projected Depth Chart:

HC: Iurgi Caminos 

PG: Pai Yao-Cheng / Chen Li-Sheng / Lin Ming-Wei
SG: Lu Chun-Hsiang / Li Chia-Kang / Chen Chiang-Shuang‍

SF: Treveon Graham / Kuan Ta-You
PF: Alec Brown / Amdy Dieng / Qiao Chu Yu ‍

C: Lin Cheng / Will Artino / Jonah Morrison

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Ryukyu Golden Kings 

The Ryukyu Golden Kings remain one of Asia’s top clubs, becoming just one of three teams to qualify for a third straight EASL season. Last year brought mixed emotions: they captured their first-ever Emperor’s Cup, but finished fourth at the EASL Final Four and fell short in the 2024-25 B.LEAGUE Finals.

Now Ryukyu returns hungry to climb to the top. With their Big 3 of Ryuichi Kishimoto, Jack Cooley, and Vic Law all back, the Golden Kings are poised to be contenders not only in Group B but across the entire competition. 

Ryukyu opens the 2025-26 season on the road against the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots on Oct. 8. 
Ryukyu’s Projected Depth Chart: 

HC: Dai Oketani 

PG: Ryuichi Kishimoto / Hayate Arakawa / Shogo Taira / Shuto Sakihama / Koya Kobari / Shutatsu Taira

SG: Masahiro Waki / Shota Onodera / Ryunosuke Satori 

SF: Vic Law / Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki / Ryo Sadohara 

PF: Jack Cooley / Keve Aluma
C: Alex Kirk / Kenta Whitaker 

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Meralco Bolts 

The Meralco Bolts are going all in for the 2025-26 season. Their offseason was headlined by the blockbuster signings of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee, a pair of former PBA rivals who bring nine combined championships to the squad.

They’ll join forces with longtime star Chris Newsome, who signed a new three-year deal, as well as returning standouts Chris Banchero, Cliff Hodge, and Bong Quinto. 

Meralco opens the 2025-26 season on the road against the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Oct. 22. 

‍Meralco’s Projected Depth Chart:

HC: Nenad Vucinic  

PG: Chris Banchero / Jose Caram / Aaron Black / Kurt Reyson

SG: Chris Newsome / Jansen Rios / C.J. Cansino

SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson / Bong Quinto / Allein Maliksi 

PF: Justin Brownlee / Cliff Hodge / Raymar Jose / Kyle Pascual 

C: Ismael Romero / Raymond Almazan / Brandon Bates 

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Macau Black Bears 

The Macau Black Bears’ debut EASL season in 2024-25 was a rollercoaster. They opened with a surprise win over the New Taipei Kings and even swept the reigning KBL champions, the Busan KCC Egis, but ultimately fell short of reaching the Final Four.

Now, the Black Bears return with a new look as they aim to stay competitive in a crowded field. They’ve lost veteran sharpshooter Jenning Leung to Group A rivals Hong Kong Eastern, but are rebuilding with fresh faces to keep themselves in the mix.

Macau begins the 2025-26 season on the road against the Meralco Bolts on November 15.

NOTE: Macau Black Bears’ roster announcement is coming soon.

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Which 2 teams make it out of Group B? Make your picks below!