The East Asia Super League (hereafter EASL) has announced an additional team for the 2025-26 season.
The newly added team will be the champion of the 2025 Japan Basketball Association (JBA) Emperor's Cup tournament. This team will join the EASL alongside the two teams that advance to the championship game of the Japan B.LEAGUE 2024-25 season. As a result, three teams representing Japan's B.LEAGUE have been confirmed for the EASL 2025-26 season.
The EASL's decision to add the 2025 Emperor's Cup tournament champion commemorates the 100th anniversary of this historic tournament in Japan and signifies a strengthening of EASL's competitiveness. Since the launch of EASL's first season (2023-24), Japan B.LEAGUE teams have demonstrated strong performance, achieving a combined record of 23 wins and 7 losses among the three participating teams that won the championship for two consecutive years. The EASL, known as the Champions League of Asian basketball, is working diligently to showcase the best teams in Asian basketball to fans. By adding another top Japanese team, it aims to ensure consistent and high-quality performance in the league.
EASL CEO Henry Kerins noted, "It is an honor to welcome a third Japanese team to the EASL, especially the champion of the 2025 Emperor's Cup tournament. The recent growth of Japanese basketball is gaining attention as the B.LEAGUE stands out as one of the top leagues in the world. This addition emphasizes our commitment to showcasing the best talent across Asia. Through this move, we will continue to elevate EASL's status as the premier basketball platform in the region, providing fans with more competitive and thrilling action."
The Ryukyu Golden Kings, as the 2025 Emperor's Cup tournament champion, will participate in the EASL for three consecutive seasons. In the EASL 2024-25 season, Ryukyu recorded 5 wins and 1 loss in the group stage and advanced to the EASL Final Four 2025.
If the Emperor's Cup tournament champion advances to the B.LEAGUE championship game, the EASL spot will be reallocated to the runner-up of the Emperor's Cup tournament. However, if both the champion and runner-up of the Emperor's Cup tournament advance to the B.LEAGUE 2024-25 season championship game, the spot will go to the team with the highest seed that was eliminated in the B.LEAGUE 2024-25 season semifinals.
The final confirmation and announcement for all Japanese participating teams in the EASL 2025-26 season will take place after the conclusion of the B.LEAGUE 2024-25 season championship game.
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