DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Utsunomiya Brex enter the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 as freshly crowned kings of Japan's B.League, ready to make their long-awaited continental debut.
And they aren’t just representing the B.League - they’re arriving as one of the most complete and battle-tested teams in all of Asia.
Qualifying path
Brex earned their BCL Asia ticket by winning the 2024–25 B.League title, edging out the 2022-23 champions Ryukyu Golden Kings in a hard-fought Finals series, 2-1. They stormed through the postseason, taking down the Chiba Jets in a three-game Semi-Finals series and the Seahorses Mikawa in the Quarter-Finals.
Their championship run was backed by a dominant regular season, where they finished with the league’s best record at 48-12, including an impressive road record (23-7). Offensively sharp and defensively disciplined, Brex were top three in scoring, field goal percentage, and three-point shooting.
They were also on point from long range with a second-best conversion rate - trailing the best three-point shooting team by only 0.1 percent.
BCL Asia history
This marks Utsunomiya Brex’s debut in BCL Asia, but they follow a strong lineage of Japanese clubs on the continental stage. Alvark Tokyo won the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2019, and just last year, the Hiroshima Dragonflies finished third in BCL Asia 2024.
The expectation? Brex want to do more than just carry the torch - they want to raise the bar.
Players to watch
Utsunomiya's core is powered by a balanced attack with four double-digit scorers, but it’s DJ Newbill who headlines the charge. The all-around guard averaged 17.1 points (8th in the league), 6.1 assists (2nd), and 5.5 rebounds per game - a stat sheet stuffer in every sense.
Then there’s Makoto Hiejima, the Japan national team stalwart and World Cup 2023 standout, who lit up defenses with 13.2 points per game and a league-best 44.3 percent from deep. His leadership and international experience will be vital.
New Zealand international Isaac Fotu adds strength up front, coming off a solid World Cup run himself. Grant Jerrett, another offensive pillar, rounds out their interior firepower.
This team doesn't just shoot well - they move well, lead the league in threes made (12.2 per game), and keep mistakes minimal (3rd fewest turnovers).
FIBA