MANILA, Philippines — It’s all set for the top PBA teams’ battle for supremacy against elite Asian clubs in the East Asia Super League (EASL).
The PBA formally signed a partnership with the EASL yesterday, paving the way for its foray into the EASL’s new pan-regional tournament against the best and brightest from the Japan B. League, the Korean Basketball League (KBL) and the Chinese-Taipei P. League+ plus a seeded Greater China team.
Following a home-and-away format, EASL hoopla will fire off in October 2022 with eight of Asia’s best teams competing for the $1-million prize money.
PBA chairman Ricky Vargas previously said Asia’s first play-for-pay league decided to join the EASL as part of its efforts to go “global.”
“It’s time to open up, join our brothers in Asia, work with them and show them what the Filipino has,” Vargas said.
The PBA chair also welcomed this opportunity to forge “stronger ties” with fellow EASL members and show that “we are the best league.”
According to the EASL, the eight teams will be split into two groups of four and will play round-robin, home-and-away in the group stage from October 2022 to February 2023.
The top two teams from each group will then advance to the Final Four and play sudden death semifinal and championship matches in March 2023.