JOHOR BAHRU (Malaysia) - It is now Johor's turn to make use of homecourt edge as the BCL Asia-East 2026 heads to this city, known for its rich basketball culture, for the first time to host Group A games on April 15-17.
The Major Basketball League outfit got swept in the opening window in Tangerang, Indonesia two weeks ago, but has the chance to get back on the same teams that beat them - and finally barge into the win column.
For head coach Yong Kian Ann, it's also going to be another gauge of how much they've grown from their first two games, being one of the three newcomers in the pan-regional tilt that serves as a qualifier to BCL Asia.
"We are a really young club coming into the BCL Asia-East," he offered. "It's different from the league we have, the MBL. In the MBL we play more of our locals, and the imports are just supporting."
"Technically, we have to change and adapt to the league," the seasoned mentor added.
The Southern Tigers (0-2) will begin their homestand on April 16, Thursday, when they lock horns anew with Dewa United Banten, who are currently leading the pool with a clean 2-0 record after defending their own turf.
Game time is set at 20:30 local time, with the crew looking for a measure of payback after bowing to a 91-79 result in their previous meeting, in which they lost hold of an early double-digit lead, never to recover.
But just like in the league's opening week, Johor will play their next game 24 hours later as they take on Hi-Tech Basketball Club on April 17, hoping to have the finishing kick in the rematch unlike the last time.
In one of the season's more thrilling games, the two figured in a slugfest and needed extra time to determine a winner, and the Basketball Thai League squad simply had more fuel and came away with the 90-80 win.
It sure stung the Southern Tigers so hard, as their efforts in extending the game went for naught after their counterparts dominated the extra period with a 20-10 barrage on the way to splitting their road trip.
All these, however, are in the past now, and the rest of Johor have their sights set on making the most out of the two games ahead happening in their very own stomping grounds at the Arena Larkin Indoor Stadium.
Opening the Johor Bahru games on April 15 would be Dewa United and Hi-Tech, with the reigning Indonesian Basketball League champions looking to replicate their 99-77 win against the Thailand representatives.
It would be a busy week ahead for BCL Asia-East 2026 as the Group B teams are set to see action in Chinese Taipei on April 14-19, with all of their games to be played at the University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium.
To know more about the complete Group Phase schedule, click here.
FIBA