ASIA LEAGUE INAUGURAL TOURNAMENT DEBUTS IN SEPTEMBER

Asia League invites top teams from China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Taiwan

The start of a bold, new era in Asian professional basketball will be celebrated in Macao at Studio City Event Center from 20-24 September, when eight of Asia’s top teams come together for a groundbreaking invitational tournament. Asia League aims to be the Asia Pacific’s premier club-to-club basketball competition to crown the region’s champion.

Asia League features eight clubs from five countries, all of which were champion contenders in their domestic leagues and support efforts to increase club-to-club competition across the region. In addition to full domestic player rosters, each team will be allowed two import players, which will increase the level of competition excitement.

Asia League plans to use the inaugural 2017 tournament to position itself as Asia Pacific’s largest and most prestigious club-to-club competition platform in the region. After the first tournament, competitions in 2018 will be expanded in scale to include more top-level teams. Asia League’s founders and management team have designed a first of its kind commercial model for Asian cross-border basketball competition.

Participating teams in Asia League’s inaugural tournament include:

China: Shenzhen Leopard; Zhejiang Guangsha Lions

Japan: Chiba Jets; Ryukyu Golden Kings

S. Korea: Goyang Orions; Samsung Thunders

Philippines: Gilas Pilipinas

Taiwan: Fubon Braves

The teams will be divided into two groups of four, each playing three round-robin games. The best two teams from each group will advance to the top four, which will play the following day in a winner-takes-all semi-finals and finals.  There will be 16 games played in total.

Asia League’s live streaming broadcast will be available on primetime TV and digital platforms in all Asia League markets and across the globe, expanding the range of viewing possibilities beyond the five participating countries. Asia League’s production partner, leading Asian basketball broadcaster ESPN5, is sending a robust crew to capture all 16 Asia League games for fans across the region.

Asia League has strategic and promotional support from the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR and the Macao Government Tourism Office of Macao SAR.  

IMG, a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, has been appointed as Asia League’s exclusive event operator, as well as its media rights and sponsorship sales representative.

Please visit Asia League’s website for more information about Asia League: www.asia-league.com.

Visit Asia League’s social media pages to engage with other fans and follow the latest news on Asia League:

·         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OriginalAsiaLeague/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

·         Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/asialeague/?hl=en

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsiaLeagueHQ

·         Sina Weibo: http://weibo.com/asialeague

·         Snapchat: Asialeague

For press inquiries or more information about Asia League, please contact Liam McGrath or Alex Olin at liam@theasialeague.com or alex@theasialeague.com.