ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - The dust has settled on the Group Phase of the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) - East Qualifiers 2025 and one thing is clear: there are no guarantees, no easy paths, and no short routes to greatness.
Here are the biggest takeaways from a thrilling and unforgiving round of basketball that gave us breakout stories, surprise exits, and a clear reminder that the level of competition here is not to be underestimated.
Mongolia have arrived - and they’re here to stay
The biggest statement came from Mongolia, where the domestic league champions Broncos didn’t just qualify - they dominated. Undefeated through the Group Phase, the Mongolian powerhouse established itself as a defensive juggernaut, holding opponents to just 63.8 points per game. For reference, the Taoyuan Pilots were second in points allowed at 69.0 points per game.
The Broncos set the tone with physicality, hustle, and an ironclad commitment to team defense.
Right behind them in pride (if not in standings) were Bishrelt Metal, who despite not qualifying, showed they’re no longer just happy to be here. They pushed playoff teams to the brink, grabbed a historic road win against the NS Matrix Deers in Malaysia, and nearly played spoiler until the final buzzer. For a country that failed to advance just a year ago, this year was validation: Mongolian basketball is real - and rising.
Moreover, Mongolia will be hosting the BCL Asia-East Final Four, further solidifying this statement.
The Qualifiers can be brutal - just ask NS Matrix and Hi-Tech
Nothing came easy. No name guaranteed survival.
NS Matrix Deers, a team that qualified for the 2024 BCL Asia proper, failed to reach even the BCL Asia-East Final 4 this time around.
Hi-Tech, packed with Thai national team stars , narrowly missed out for the second straight year.
This isn’t an indictment of their strength - far from it. Thailand’s basketball talents are solid, and both teams showed flashes of brilliance. But their exits prove something essential: the BCL Asia-East has evolved into a tough competition. One slip, one off night, one brutal matchup - and your season is over. The level is deep, the margins are razor-thin, and reputations mean little when the ball tips off.
Chinese Taipei: Making a Grand Entrance
For the first time, teams from Chinese Taipei entered the BCL Asia-East Qualifiers - and they didn’t just join, they conquered. Both Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and New Taipei Kings qualified for the Final Four, bringing a fast, tactical brand of basketball built on spacing, tempo, and elite guard play.
In particular, the highlighted star of the New Taipei Kings was Mike Efevberha who scored a BCL Asia-East high of 39 points this season.
But it wasn’t just offense that powered them forward - defense has been the real headline, especially for the Pilots, who led their group in defensive efficiency and consistently suffocated opponents into submission. The arrival of these top-tier clubs has immediately reshaped the East landscape. They’re not learning the ropes - they’re tightening them.
Defense Still Wins Championships
You want to survive the East? Play defense. The two undefeated teams - Broncos and Taoyuan Pilots - weren’t just the best teams in their groups. They were the hardest to score on, and their intensity on the defensive end wore down even the most talented lineups.
From the Broncos’ relentless rebounding and rim protection to the Pilots’ backcourt pressure and surgical rotations, both teams showed that flashy offense can win a game - but lockdown defense wins you a ticket to the next round.
Don’t Sleep on Pelita Jaya
They didn’t dominate like last year. They didn’t top the group. But Pelita Jaya showed sparks — and serious potential. Much of the roster remains intact from their 2024 Qualifiers sweep, and while the results weren’t as shiny this time, the ceiling remains high.
Their narrow escape against Bishrelt Metal and late-game poise against other contenders suggest that this is still a team capable of flipping a switch. With a bit more consistency and polish, they’ll remain a dangerous threat heading into future campaigns.
From Mongolia’s rise to Chinese Taipei’s debut dominance and from traditional powerhouses taking early exits to new ones stepping up - the BCL Asia-East Qualifiers have never felt more competitive. The Final Four is next, and if the Group Phase taught us anything, it’s this:
Nobody is safe. Every game is earned. And the East is deeper than ever.
FIBA