Basketball Champions League Asia

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Basketball Champions League Asia
Basketball Champions League Asia logo.png
Organising body FIBA Asia
Founded1981;44 years ago (1981)
First season 1981
Region Asia
Number of teams8
Promotion to FIBA Intercontinental Cup
Current champions Flag of Lebanon.svg Al Riyadi (3rd title)
(2024)
Most championships Flag of Lebanon.svg Al Riyadi
Flag of Lebanon.svg Sagesse
(3 titles each)
TV partners YouTube (online streaming)
Basketball current event.svg 2025 Basketball Champions League Asia-East

The Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia), formerly the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, [1] is an annual continental club men's basketball competition organised by FIBA Asia. It is the highest level club competition for basketball in Asia.

Contents

Introduced in 1981, as the Asian Basketball Club Championship, the competition rebranded in 2004 to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. In 2024, the tournament was renamed as the Basketball Champions League Asia. [2]

Al Riyadi and Sagesse from Lebanon are the most successful teams in the history of the competition with three championships each. Lebanese and Iranian clubs have won the most titles with a total of six among teams from each of these countries.

History

The competition was first organised by the Asian Basketball Confederation in 1981, when the inaugural tournament was hosted in Hong Kong. The first-ever champions were the Bayi Rockets from China. In 1995, the name of the competition was changed to the ABC Champions Cup. After the ABC became integrated in FIBA in 2004, the competition was rebranded as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.

In the 1990s, FIBA announced plans to expand the Intercontinental Cup with the teams from the BCL Asia, Basketball Africa League (BAL), NBL, and the NBA, at some point in the future. [3] [4]

In 2024, it was announced that the tournament will be renamed as the Basketball Champions League Asia, a name in line with other continental competitions in the Americas and Europe. [2]

Al Riyadi Club Beirut and Sagesse from Lebanon are the most successful clubs in the history of the competition, having won three titles each. Clubs from Lebanon and Iran have the most combined titles, with a total of six each.

In 2025, the BCL Asia qualifying rounds renamed as BCL Asia-East. [5]

Qualification

As of the 2024 season, teams can qualify for the BCL Asia directly through their national leagues, through the FIBA West Asia Super League or through the qualifying rounds.

Allocated spots in the Basketball Champions League Asia
MethodCountryLeague
Direct Qualification Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Chinese Basketball Association
Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea Korean Basketball League
Flag of Japan.svg Japan B.League
Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines Philippine Basketball Association
FIBA Zonal LeaguesCentral, West Asia and Gulf FIBA West Asia Super League champions
FIBA West Asia Super League runners-up
BCL Asia-EastEast and Southeast AsiaWinners of the BCL Asia-East
Runners-up of the BCL Asia-East

Summary

Champions

YearHostsChampionsScoreRunners-upThird Place
1981 Flag of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg Hong Kong Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bayi Rockets No playoffs Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Nippon Kokan Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Apcor
1984 Flag of Malaysia.svg Ipoh Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Northern Cement 82–56 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bayi Rockets Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg Kuang Hua
1988 Flag of Indonesia.svg Jakarta Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Swift-PABL 84–69 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liaoning Hunters Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Samsung Electronics
1990 Flag of Indonesia.svg Jakarta Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liaoning Hunters No playoffs Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Bank of Korea Flag of Kuwait.svg Kazma
1992 Flag of Thailand.svg Bangkok Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kia Motors No playoffs Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liaoning Hunters Flag of Kuwait.svg Kazma
1995 Flag of Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Andok's 101–82 Flag of Malaysia.svg Petronas Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kia Motors
1996 Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Manila Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Hapee Toothpaste 77–74 Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Isuzu Lynx Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guangdong Winnerway
1997 Flag of Indonesia.svg Jakarta Flag of Hong Kong.svg Regal 64–59 Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg Kia Motors Flag of Indonesia.svg Aspac
1998 Flag of Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing Hanwei 71–70 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Regal Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Riyadi
1999 Flag of Lebanon.svg Beirut Flag of Lebanon.svg Sagesse 84–71 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liaoning Hunters Flag of Malaysia.svg Petronas
2000 Flag of Lebanon.svg Beirut Flag of Lebanon.svg Sagesse 55–52 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ittihad Flag of Bahrain (1972-2002).svg Al-Manama
2001 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ittihad 103–101(OT) Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg Al-Wahda
2002 Flag of Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan 92–78 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ittihad Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg Al-Wahda
2003 Flag of Malaysia.svg Kuala Lumpur Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg Al-Wahda 96–63 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan Flag of South Korea.svg Sangmu Phoenix
2004 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Sharjah Flag of Lebanon.svg Sagesse 72–70 Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg Al-Wahda Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan
2005 Flag of the Philippines.svg Quezon City Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan 83–76 Flag of Jordan.svg Fastlink Flag of Lebanon.svg Sagesse
2006 Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait City Flag of Jordan.svg Fastlink 94–69 Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg Al-Jalaa Aleppo Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan
2007 Flag of Iran.svg Tehran Flag of Iran.svg Saba Battery Tehran 83–75 Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg Al-Jalaa Aleppo Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan
2008 Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait City Flag of Iran.svg Saba Battery Tehran 82–75 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al-Wasl
2009 Flag of Indonesia.svg Jakarta Flag of Iran.svg Mahram Tehran 78–68 Flag of Jordan.svg Zain Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Riyadi
2010 Flag of Qatar.svg Doha Flag of Iran.svg Mahram Tehran 93–73 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Riyadi
2011 Flag of the Philippines.svg Pasig Flag of Lebanon.svg Al Riyadi 91–82 Flag of Iran.svg Mahram Tehran Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan
2012 Flag of Lebanon.svg Beirut No title awardedNot held Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Riyadi
Flag of Iran.svg Mahram Tehran
Flag of Iraq.svg Duhok
2013 Flag of Jordan.svg Amman Flag of Iran.svg Foolad Mahan Isfahan 84–74 Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan Flag of Jordan.svg ASU
2016 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Chenzhou Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Kashgar 96–88 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Riyadi Flag of Iran.svg Petrochimi Bandar Imam
2017 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Chenzhou Flag of Lebanon.svg Al Riyadi 88–59 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Kashgar Flag of Kazakhstan.svg BC Astana
2018 Flag of Thailand.svg Nonthaburi Flag of Iran.svg Petrochimi Bandar Imam 68–64 Flag of Japan.svg Alvark Tokyo Flag of South Korea.svg Seoul SK Knights
2019 Flag of Thailand.svg Nonthaburi Flag of Japan.svg Alvark Tokyo 98–74 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Riyadi Flag of Iran.svg Palayesh Naft Abadan
2020 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Guangzhou [6] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia [7]
2022 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
2024 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai Flag of Lebanon.svg Al Riyadi 122–96 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Shabab Al Ahli Flag of Japan.svg Hiroshima Dragonflies

Records and statistics

Performances in the Basketball Champions League Asia by club
ClubTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up
Flag of Lebanon.svg Al Riyadi 33 2011, 2017, 2024 2012, 2016, 2019
Flag of Lebanon.svg Sagesse 30 1999, 2000, 2004
Flag of Qatar.svg Al-Rayyan 25 2002, 2005 2001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2013
Flag of Iran.svg Mahram Tehran 22 2009, 2010 2011, 2012
Flag of Iran.svg Saba Battery Tehran 20 2007, 2008
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Liaoning Hunters 13 1990 1988, 1992, 1999
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ittihad 12 2001 2000, 2002
Flag of Jordan.svg Zain 12 2006 2005, 2009
Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg Al-Wahda 11 2003 2004
Flag of South Korea.svg Kia Motors 11 1992 1997
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bayi Rockets 11 1981 1984
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Regal 11 1997 1998
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xinjiang Flying Tigers / China Kashgar 11 2016 2017
Flag of Japan.svg Alvark Tokyo 11 2019 2018
Flag of Iran.svg Petrochimi Bandar Imam 10 2018
Flag of the Philippines.svg Northern Cement 10 1984
Flag of the Philippines.svg Swift-PABL 10 1988
Flag of the Philippines.svg Andok's 10 1995
Flag of the Philippines.svg Hapee Toothpaste 10 1996
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing Hanwei 10 1998
Flag of Iran.svg Foolad Mahan Isfahan 10 2013
Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg Al-Jalaa Aleppo 02 2006, 2007
Flag of Malaysia.svg Petronas 01 1995
Flag of Japan.svg Nippon Kokan 01 1981
Flag of South Korea.svg Bank of Korea 01 1990
Flag of Japan.svg Isuzu Lynx 01 1996
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Shabab Al Ahli 01 2024

Titles by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 63413
2Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 62210
3Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 45110
4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 4015
5Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 25411
6Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria 1326
7Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1315
8Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1247
9Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 1214
10Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1203
11Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1102
12Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia 0112
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 0112
14Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 0022
15Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 0011
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 0011
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 0011
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 0011
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 0011
Totals (19 entries)28302987

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. "22ND FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONS CUP". fibaasia.net. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Mongolia, Indonesia to host BCL Asia Qualifying rounds". FIBA. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  3. Esportes.Opovobr Com Copa Intercontinental, Fiba ensaia Campeonato Mundial. Archived January 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (in Portuguese)
  4. Estadao.com Pinheiros e Olympiacos começam a disputar o título da Intercontinental. (in Portuguese)
  5. "FIBA Asia convenes third board meeting for 2023-27 in Jeddah". FIBA.basketball. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  6. "FIBA Asia Board Meeting Decisions" (PDF). Basketball Association of Singapore. FIBA Asia. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  7. "Bayi Rockets soar to first FIBA Asia Champions Cup". FIBA. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2024.