EASL comes of age

Sporting Chance

- By Joaquin M. Henson

MACAU - EASL's journey into the world of basketball started in 2017 and after wrapping up a second straight home-and-away season here last Sunday, the verdict is it has come of age. The league waded to shore with two pocket tournaments, Super Eight twice and Terrific 12 twice, took a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, reemerged to stage the Champions Week in 2023 then staked a claim on firm ground by reeling off two consecutive home-and-away campaigns.

In the first full season, eight teams participated. In the next, it went up to 10. In the third edition starting in October, there will be 12 teams with Mongolia joining squads from Japan, Korea, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau and the Philippines. EASL CEO Henry Kerins likes to use the word "momentum" to describe the league's upward growth. The progress is evident with the meteoric rise in sales, revenues, sponsors, views, social media impressions, broadcast partners, fan engagement and attendance.