DUBAI (UAE) - The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 is gearing up to be more than just a battle of clubs - it’s shaping up to be a celebration of basketball fandom like no other.
With the prestigious tournament returning to Dubai for a second consecutive year from June 7 to 13, the atmosphere is expected to be electric, thanks to the passionate fanbases of the teams, namely host club Shabab Al Ahli, WASL champions Al Riyadi, and representative from the Philippine, Meralco Bolts.
While Shabab Al Ahli will naturally enjoy the backing of their home crowd, two other fan groups are expected to also make a massive impact in the stands.
"We always feel at home in Dubai," said Al Riyadi head coach Ahmad Farran after his team clinched the WASL Final 8.
Dubai is a lucky charm for us.
"We have a big Lebanese fanbase here. They push us to the max," he had said after Riyadi won BCL Asia last year. "When we play in Dubai like nothing changes, it's same atmosphere like Manara [Riyadi's homecourt in Lebanon]. So this is something very important to us. We're very lucky to play in Dubai here in front of our fans."
Farran's words are no exaggeration. Last year, during BCL Asia 2024, Lebanese supporters packed the stands game after game, culminating in a roaring yellow-and-blue sea during their triumph over Shabab Al Ahli in the Final.
MVP guard Wael Arakji echoed that sentiment: "Dubai is a lucky charm for us. Our fanbase is huge here. Playing in Dubai is a great opportunity for us. It's like we have an edge on all teams because all of our games are full. Our fans are coming in very hungry to win championships."
That "home away from home" advantage could once again fuel the reigning BCL Asia champions as they eye a historic fourth regional title.
But they won’t be the only ones backed by a fierce and faithful diaspora.
The Filipino community in the UAE has long transformed Dubai into a second home for hoops. From Satwa to Sharjah, Filipinos live and breathe basketball. Their passion spills from street courts into packed arenas whenever a team from the Philippines takes the floor.
Expect a wave of support when the Meralco Bolts step on the court in BCL Asia.
"Filipinos are crazy about basketball - to us, it’s like religion," said Philippines national team guard Thirdy Ravena in The National News. Ravena currently plays professionally for a Dubai-based club.
Whether it’s cheering in stylized jerseys at Capital Garden Park or chanting in unison at Coca-Cola Arena, Filipino fans create an unmatched energy that resonates with players. They've always proven to provide a spark for Filipino teams in international competitions hosted in Dubai - and the Bolts will expect to experience the same wave of support.
These fanbases - as well as all of the fans from all of the nine competing teams - ensure that BCL Asia 2025 won't just be about who plays best, but also about which crowd roars loudest.
And for Dubai, a city built on global energy and cultural fusion, this tournament is set to become a perfect storm of passion, pride, and pure basketball love.
FIBA