BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Taoyuan Pauian and New Taipei aim for a victorious homestand as Group B play of the Basketball Champions League Asia-East (BCL Asia-East) 2026 heads to Chinese Taipei this week.
In fact, both the Pilots and the Kings will usher in the new window when they take on one another in a battle between domestic rivals on Tuesday, April 14, at the University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium in Shilin.
Game time is set at 20:30 local time, with last year's runners-up looking to follow up their triumphant opener against the gritty South China Athletic Association, 79-76, just last April 9 in the latter's own turf.
But it's not lost on the P. League+ outfit that they're going to be up for a challenging clash ahead, with their TPBL counterparts bent on bouncing back after getting humiliated during the previous window in Wan Chai.
New Taipei succumbed to the upset axe and fell to South China via rout, 103-82, allowing the latter to give Hong Kong, China their first win in a FIBA continental club contest since Winling in the 2002 Champions Cup.
So, it's going to be a thrilling bout right off the bat for Group B, but at the same time the start of what would be a busy stretch for both of the Chinese Taipei representatives as they host the others in the pool.
Taoyuan Pauian, for one, will look to repeat against South China (1-2) on April 16, and will have a few days of preparation before trying to gain a measure of payback against the Chinggis Broncos on April 21.
That game against the Mongolian outfit is surely marked on their calendars, given the fact that they got beaten by the latter in last year's Final in Ulaanbaatar on the way to becoming the first BCL Asia-East champs.
As far as New Taipei is concerned, the crew will take the court again on April 18 against South China in what should be a vengeful outing for them, before testing their mettle versus the Broncos on April 19.
The Chinese Taipei caravan will conclude on April 26 featuring another meeting between the Kings and the Pilots. The contest will be played at the former's home court at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
All BCL Asia-East games will be streamed live on FIBA's official YouTube channel. To know more about the complete schedule of the Group Phase, as well as an overview of the league, click here.
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