BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The inaugural Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2024 is headed to the "City of Gold".

The FIBA Regional Office - Asia has agreed with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai to host the competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from June 9-15, 2024.

This will be the third time that United Arab Emirates has held Asia’s prestigious club competition, which was previously called the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, and the second time in Dubai. The first time (2001) that the competition was played in UAE, Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad won the title. The event returned to UAE three years later in 2004, where Sagesse SC beat Al Wahda in the Final in Sharjah.

"I'm very excited and looking forward to this truly historic moment when the first edition of the BCL Asia tips off in Dubai. I want to thank the UAE Basketball Association and Shabab Al Ahli Club for supporting and facilitating the process of organizing the inaugural edition in Dubai," said FIBA Executive Director - Asia, Mr. Hagop Khajirian.

"This club competition in Asia has a rich history and tradition, but this year’s edition is special as it marks the debut of the rebranded Basketball Champions League Asia. Strategically, it is another important step towards fulfilling FIBA’s objective of shaping the landscape of international club competitions," he added.

The inaugural edition will feature 8 champion clubs from 8 Asian countries Two of these eight teams, Pelita Jaya Basketball (Indonesia) and NS Matrix Deers (Malaysia), have already secured their spots through the recently concluded BCL Asia Qualifiers.

Two additional spots will be secured by the finalists of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8.

BCL Asia will serve as the pathway for Asian clubs to qualify for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, FIBA's premier club competition.

FIBA