The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is set to make another run on the international stage as it returns for Season 3 of the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away format, with the action tipping off on October 8.
Although the EASL has yet to confirm which PBA team will suit up, one slot has been officially reserved in Group B for Asia’s oldest pro basketball league. Last season’s representatives, the Meralco Bolts and San Miguel Beermen, both fell short of a Final Four berth, but the PBA is determined to bounce back stronger this year.
Group B will feature tough competition, with the PBA squad set to battle it out against Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings (B.League), the Macau Black Bears, and the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots—last year’s runners-up who lost to the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the championship.
Over in Group A, Japan’s Utsunomiya Brex leads a star-studded pack that includes the Taipei Fubon Braves (P.League+), Seoul SK Knights (KBL), and Hong Kong Eastern. Group C, meanwhile, is loaded with powerhouse squads: reigning KBL champion Changwon LG Sakers, Alvark Tokyo, New Taipei Kings, and EASL newcomers Xac Broncos from Mongolia.
This year’s EASL season promises to be its biggest yet. The league has expanded to 12 teams representing seven different regions: Japan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, and the Philippines. For the first time, fans can catch EASL games on weekends, with action-packed matchups scheduled every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
A historic triple-header on October 8 will launch the season, including a first-ever EASL game in Tokyo. More milestone moments await, including Mongolia’s debut game when the Xac Broncos host the New Taipei Kings on November 1. Meanwhile, fans in Taipei are in for a treat with a Christmas Eve showdown between the Fubon Braves and Seoul SK Knights.
Adding to the excitement is a revamped competition format. The top two teams from each group will now advance to a Round of Six, replacing the traditional Final Four setup. The season will culminate in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all championship game.
With pride, redemption, and regional bragging rights on the line, the PBA’s return to the EASL promises intense competition, unforgettable highlights, and another chapter in the league’s international legacy.