East Asia Super League (EASL) will become an official qualifying pathway to Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) for the 2026-27 season.

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Under the confirmed framework, three EASL teams will qualify for BCL Asia based on their performance during the 2026-27 EASL season. The qualifying teams will be:

• The best-ranked team from Japan

• The best-ranked team from Korea

• The best-ranked team overall, excluding teams from Japan and Korea

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Under the final qualification criterion, the best-ranked team overall excluding representatives from Japan's B.LEAGUE and Korea's KBL will earn the third BCL Asia berth. This means that EASL teams representing Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, and the Philippines during the 2026-27 season will compete for this spot, with the highest-finishing team among those markets qualifying for BCL Asia. This qualification structure replaces the previously announced pathway in which the top-ranked EASL team from the Philippines would qualify automatically.

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BCL Asia is FIBA Asia’s top continental club competition, bringing together leading men’s basketball clubs from across the region to compete for the title of Asia’s top basketball club. The winner of BCL Asia earns a place in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, where club champions from FIBA’s continental confederations, along with a representative from the NBA G League, compete for the title of world club champion.

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With EASL serving as an official qualifying pathway, BCL Asia will add top-performing teams from the league through a clear, competition-based structure. As EASL brings together leading clubs from the best leagues across the region, qualification through the league ensures teams earn their place against some of Asia’s strongest opposition, while further strengthening EASL’s role as a central platform for club basketball in Asia.

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Teams will now compete not only for the EASL championship, but also for direct qualification to BCL Asia and a potential route to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

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“This framework is an important step for EASL and for the development of club basketball in Asia,” said Henry Kerins, EASL Chief Executive Officer. “It gives our teams a clear competitive pathway to BCL Asia and adds further significance to the 2026-27 EASL season. We appreciate FIBA’s collaboration and look forward to continuing to work together to support the growth of the game across the region.”

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The qualifying framework will apply exclusively to the 2026-27 season. More details about the 2026-27 EASL season will be announced soon.