The expansion of the East Asia Super League to include the champion club from the Mongolian league is expected to further promote the sport across a wider region in Asia. [Photo provided to China Daily]
The premier basketball league of East Asia has scored a major expansion with Mongolia's national champion club set to join the current 10-team regional showpiece starting from next season.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) announced on Friday that Mongolia's top professional basketball league, "The League", will join EASL for the 2025-26 season and beyond. Representing the country will be the champion team from the current 2024-25 season, marking a major milestone for the sport in the region.
This expansion marks a major milestone for EASL as the league keeps broadening its representation of the game at the club level across the region.
With the addition of Mongolia, EASL now features league champions from across the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taiwan, and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, building toward the pinnacle of club competition in Asia. Announcements regarding additional teams joining for the 2025-26 campaign are expected soon.
The expansion of the East Asia Super League to include the champion club from the Mongolian league is expected to further promote the sport across a wider region in Asia. [Photo provided to China Daily]
"We're excited to welcome 'The League' to EASL and support the growth of Mongolian basketball," said EASL CEO Henry Kerins.
"This partnership is a landmark achievement that's never been done before. It's a testament to our commitment to elevating basketball across Asia and uniting the region's best talent.
"Partnering with Mongolia's 'The League' ensures that EASL teams will compete against strong, well-prepared opponents, raising the level of the game for everyone involved."
Tugsjargal Sambuu, secretary-general of the Mongolian Basketball Association (MBA), hailed the partnership with EASL as a game changer for the sport's growth in his country.
"This marks a historic milestone for Mongolian basketball. For the first time, the best teams from our professional league will compete against Asia's basketball powerhouses, highlighting our talent, resilience, and dedication to the sport," he said.
The expansion of the East Asia Super League to include the champion club from the Mongolian league is expected to further promote the sport across a wider region in Asia. [Photo provided to China Daily]
"This opportunity not only elevates our league and the level of competition but also serves as a powerful inspiration for a new generation of players and fans in Mongolia. We are thrilled to showcase Mongolia's basketball talent to hundreds of millions of fans across Asia."
The Mongolian league, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, consists of 10 teams. Basketball is widely considered among the most popular sports in Mongolia, with over half of the country's population following the game as fans.
Each EASL season features a 30-game group stage held from October to February, with six games (three home, three away) for each of the 10 teams. The top four teams in the group stage qualify for the Final Four weekend in March, which crowns the champion of East Asia.
EASL is organized under an exclusive agreement with FIBA, the sport's international governing body.
