BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Mongolia and Indonesia will be hosting the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) Qualifying rounds, the FIBA Regional Office announced on Thursday, February 29. 

Round 1 of the Basketball Champions League (BCL Asia) qualifiers will take place in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, whereas Round 2 will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Formerly known as FIBA Asia Champions Cup before being renamed and rebranded early 2024 in line with competitions in Europe and Americas, the continent's top-tier club competition since 1981 will be relaunched as Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) in its debut this year and will include the continent’s top 8 clubs.

These qualifiers in Mongolia and Indonesia will serve as a platform for two clubs to qualify for the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), where they will join the Champion teams from Japan (B.League), Korea (KBL), China (CBA League), the Philippines (PBA), in addition to two clubs from FIBA West Asia Super League.

“Shaping International Club Competitions is one of FIBA’s strategic priorities for cycle 2023-2027, and we are happy to move on forward in this direction, said FIBA Executive Director – Asia, Mr. Hagop Khajirian.

“These qualifiers will not only showcase the best of East and South East Asian basketball, but will also provide a platform for clubs to rise and compete at the highest club competition in Asia, he added. 

The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) qualifiers for East and South East Asian clubs will be structured into two rounds.

Round 1, scheduled to be held in Ulaanbaatar from April 3-7, will feature eight clubs, with representation from East and South East Asia. Mongolia and Indonesia will be represented by two clubs each and they will be joined by the league champions from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

These 8 clubs will be placed into two groups of four teams according to their National teams’ ranking in the FIBA World Ranking for Men. The top team from each group will advance to Round 2, while teams finishing second and third in each group will go head-to-head to determine the remaining 2 spots for Round 2.

Round 2, scheduled to be held in Jakarta from April 23-26, will be played in a single-round robin format, and the top two clubs will qualify for the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia).

FIBA