BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Another edition of the Basketball Champions League Asia-East (BCL Asia-East) is finally upon and that means another solid stretch of high-level basketball from teams in this part of the continent.
But if you're a new fan wanting to catch up on what this tournament is all about, or if you've been following since Day One and just wanted to be in the loop, here's everything you need to know ahead of the contest.
What is BCL Asia-East?
The BCL Asia-East is a pan-regional competition featuring the top pro clubs from the East and South East Asia regions, particularly from Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, China.
It was formerly known as the BCL Asia Qualifiers back in 2024 before it was rebranded to the BCL Asia-East we now know today the following year, and with a whole new format which we will discuss further below.
The BCL Asia-East serves as one of the qualifying paths toward the BCL Asia, similar to the FIBA West Asia Super League, where some of the leading teams from the Gulf, West, South, and Central Asia have been competing.
Which teams are competing?
A total of seven teams are set to see action in the 2026 festivities, headlined by defending champions XAC Broncos of Mongolia, who are also coming in as the defending, two-time The League titlists.
Last year's runners-up in the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots are back as well, together with fellow Chinese Taipei representatives in the New Taipei Kings. The Hi-Tech Basketball Club of Thailand are set for another run, too.
There are also three newcomers expected to add more spice to the competition, namely Dewa United Banten of Indonesia, the Johor Southern Tigers of Malaysia, and South China Athletic of Hong Kong, China.
Which players can we expect to see?
There won't be any shortage of stars in the BCL Asia-East 2026 whatsoever - from familiar faces, to newer and fresher talents. To check the preliminary rosters, click on each team in the table below.
We have also compiled a list of 7 players to watch out for, which you can read below:
What is the competition system?
The aforementioned teams have been seeded into two groups, which you can see in the table above. The Group Phase will see Group A teams face each other thrice, while Group B sides will play in a double round-robin.
The top 3 teams from each group in the Group Phase will then advance to the Final 6, the league's culminating event, where the teams will be drawn once again into two groups for the Preliminary Round.
The top 2 teams will then advance to the cross-over Semi-Finals. Teams entering the Final, subject to not more than one team from each National Federation, will then qualify to play in the BCL Asia 2026.
When will it start?
To be played in a caravan model, the BCL Asia-East 2026 will open this Friday, March 27, at the Dewa United Arena in Tangerang, Indonesia, with Dewa United hosting Hi-Tech. Tip-off time is set at 19:00 local time.
Click here the complete competition schedule.
What is at stake?
As mentioned, all competing teams are hoping to qualify for the BCL Asia 2026, with the top 2 teams by tournament's end booking their tickets to the continent's most prestigious club competition.
Where can we watch live?
All games can be watched live and on-demand in the official FIBA YouTube channel.
Click here for the full playlist, curated to navigate through games easily.
How to stay updated with the latest?
Follow BCL Asia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all things BCL Asia-East.
FIBA