‘EASL Clash of Champions’ returns to Macau

The East Asia Super League (EASL) 2024-2025 season will return to Macau, featuring four games at Macau’s Studio City Event Center, the EASL and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (Melco) announced yesterday.

This return is part of a renewed partnership between EASL and Melco.

The “EASL Clash of Champions” event will take place for the second consecutive year in Macau, with organizers noting their mission to diversify the tourism market and further enhance Macau’s development as a “City of Sports.”

“EASL is excited to extend our long history and partnership with Melco Resorts & Entertainment and to bring five of Asia’s best basketball teams to Macau,” said EASL Chief Executive Officer, Henry Kerins.

“EASL games provide unique sports entertainment experiences, and Studio City creates the perfect stage. This is going to be an amazing atmosphere for our Macau and Greater Bay Area basketball fans.”

Representing Melco, Senior Vice President and Property General Manager of Studio City, Kevin Benning, said, “Melco is committed to delivering diversified world-class entertainment options to our guests,” adding, “We are thrilled to be working with EASL to entertain sports fans with premier Asian basketball at Studio City as we bring more sports and entertainment to our beautiful city.”

Studio City Event Center will act as the home venue for defending Macau champions, the Macau Black Bears, who enter EASL’s 2024-2025 season as one of the league’s two expansion teams.

Following a strong performance last season, the Macau team has signed several new talents in the offseason, including 7-foot-6 center Samuel Deguara, and is bringing back star player Jenning Leung, a versatile 6-foot-1 guard currently in his second stint with the team.

The first match in Macau will take place Oct. 30, when the Ryukyu Golden Kings take on the Macau Black Bears in one of two standalone regular season games.

On Nov. 6, the Busan KCC Egis (South Korea) will travel to Macau.

The third match of the four-match series is scheduled for Dec. 11, when the Bears face the P.LEAGUE+ (Taiwan) winners, the New Taipei Kings, at 9 p.m.

Another match on the same day at 7 p.m. will feature P.LEAGUE+ runners-up, the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, taking on the Korean Basketball League runners-up, the Suwon KT Sonic Boom.

Tickets for all four games are now available at Studio City’s website (www.studiocity-macau.com).