New B.LEAGUE champions Hiroshima Dragonflies will make their way to the East Asia Super League in the upcoming 2024-25 season, alongside EASL mainstay Ryukyu Golden Kings.
Japanese B.LEAGUE teams Hiroshima Dragonflies and the Ryukyu Golden Kings have qualified for the East Asia Super League’s 2024-25 Season.
The Japanese teams will compete in EASL next season to be the champions of East Asian professional basketball.
They will face the champions and runners-up from Chinese Taipei’s P. LEAGUE+ and the Korean Basketball League (KBL), as well as two of the best teams from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The Hiroshima Dragonflies were recently crowned as 2023-24 B.LEAGUE champions, beating the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the Finals, 2-1.
It was Hiroshima’s first-ever B.LEAGUE title, and the Dragonflies will appear in the EASL for the first time as well.
Meanwhile, the Golden Kings have been a constant in EASL play. Ryukyu has appeared in five of the six East Asia Super League tournaments, including winning the title in The Terrific 12 in 2018.
“EASL is delighted to have the B.LEAGUE champions and runners-up competing once again to be the champions of East Asia,” EASL CEO Henry Kerins said.
“We’re looking forward to returning to Okinawa with the Ryukyu Golden Kings, after a tremendous series of games there last season. And we can’t wait to see what the Hiroshima Dragonflies will bring to the 2024-25 Season,” he added.
B.LEAGUE Chairman Shinji Shimada likewise confirmed the participation of the Dragonflies and the Golden Kings, and is looking to keep the EASL title in Japan.
Last season, the Chiba Jets won the East Asia Super League on an 8-0 sweep. Chiba’s win allowed Japan to be the winningest country in EASL’s young history.
“After a year of battling it out in the B.LEAGUE, which is improving year by year, and achieving impressive results as champions and runners-up, they have proved that they are Japan’s two best teams,” Shimada said of Hiroshima and Ryukyu.
“Last season, the Chiba Jets were crowned EASL champions. We hope that one of these two teams will bring the EASL championship to Japan again,” he added.
The draw for the EASL 2024-25 Season Group Stage was made earlier this year in agreement with the participating leagues.
As B.LEAGUE champions, the Dragonflies have been placed into Group A. The Golden Kings have been placed into Group B.
Hiroshima will match up in Group A against Korean Basketball League (KBL) runners-up Suwon KT Sonicboom, the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up, and one of the best-performing teams from the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 2023-24 conferences.
In Group B, Ryukyu will face KBL champions the Busan KCC Egis, the P. LEAGUE+ champions, and a second top-performing PBA team.