DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - There's no denying that much of the focus will be on Al Riyadi as fans and pundits alike are on the lookout if they can defend their crown in the fast-approaching BCL Asia 2025.
But eight other teams are out to demolish the formidable Yellow Castle, with each of them looking to establish a new reign in the continent's most prestigious club competition to be held in the 'City of Gold.'
Action starts with the Group Phase opening on June 7 at the Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Sports Hall, with the attention centered on the BCL Asia-East 2025 finalists Ulaanbaatar Xac and Taoyuan Pauian.
Champions of the said tournament, the Broncos will raise the BCL Asia curtains versus Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, who are coming in as the 2024-25 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) titlists, at 15:00 local time.
Ulaanbaatar Xac will be the first team from Mongolia since 2012 to take part in the tilt erstwhile known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, making their upcoming campaign all the more significant.
The Pilots, on the other hand, will begin their against the Changwon LG Sakers, champions of the 2024-25 Korean Basketball League (KBL), the main game of the triple-header offering scheduled at 21:00 local time
No team from Chinese Taipei competed in last year's edition and Taoyuan Pauian would be the first since the contest's major revamp, and will be looking to end a 41-year medal drought for their homeland.
Not to be forgotten in Saturday's opening festivities, of course, are hosts Shabab Al Ahli, who will take on Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) representatives Meralco Bolts in a tussle set at 18:00 local time.
The UAE League Basketball squad will be out for redemption with the BCL Asia back in their stomping grounds after settling for a runner-up finish last year behind Al Riyadi, who took the gold via five-game sweep.
But they know, too, that nothing worth having comes easy, and their first game is an example as they will be battling the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champs, who are returning to the tourney after six years.
And given the kind of presence the Filipinos have in the Emirati city, the venue could potentially become packed to the roof and support their compatriots, who are hoping to give the country its first medal since 1996.
It should be the same sight albeit with Lebanese fans in attendance for the games of Al Riyadi, who will begin their title defense bid on June 8 against the Sakers. Game time is set at 21:00 local time.
Needless to say, the Korean unit will have their hands full against the Lebanese powerhouse, who are in the midst of an unbeaten 13-game winning streak in this season's FIBA Asia club competition.
Their perfect run thus far dates back to the 2025 FIBA WASL-West Asia League where they secured a three-peat and they'd be aiming for another unblemished stint ahead in an attempt to go back-to-back.
The Riyadi-Changwon clash will be the nightcap of Sunday's triple-header, which will be opened by a meeting between Tabiat and the Lions, followed by a duel between Meralco and B.League winners. Utsunomiya Brex.
The Group Phase will run from June 7-9, with each gameday featuring three fixtures. The top eight teams at the end will qualify for the Quarter-Finals on June 11, the pairings of which to be known via draw.
The cumulative ranking between the three groups, established as per the FIBA Official Basketball Rules - Chapter D - Classification of Teams, will be used to determine the teams in different pots for the said draw.
The four winning teams will then comprise the Semi-Finals set June 12, the victors of which heading to the one-game Final on June 13. The losing sides, meanwhile, will play in the Third-Place Game on the same date.
The champion team will not only cement their legacy as the best in Asia but will also earn the right to represent the continent in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 in Singapore, FIBA's highest club competition.
For the complete BCL Asia 2025 schedule, click here.
FIBA