The Philippines Joins the Eastern Conference Circuit as Asian University Basketball Prepares for a Season Spanning November 2026 to August 2027

The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) is set to elevate collegiate basketball across the region, announcing a groundbreaking 2026–27 season that will include 18 university programs from 11 markets. This ambitious initiative aims to create a home-and-away competition format, marking a pivotal moment in Asian collegiate basketball history.

A New Era for University Basketball in Asia

On October 26, the AUBL unveiled its plans for the new season, which promises to engage fans and student-athletes alike. With a total of 54 games scheduled across two conferences, the league will feature 12 teams advancing to Championship Week in August 2027.

For Filipino basketball fans, this is especially exciting as the Philippines joins the Eastern Conference alongside powerhouse nations such as China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. This inclusion not only brings international competition to local campuses but also enhances the region’s basketball culture.

“This is a landmark moment for university basketball in Asia,” AUBL CEO Jay Li remarked. “For the first time, the continent’s best college teams will be tested home and away, and that changes everything.”

Li emphasized that the expansion aims to connect diverse basketball cultures, extend the league’s fan base, and provide student-athletes with unique opportunities for travel and competition.

Yonsei Faces Chinese Powerhouses to Open the Season

Kickoff for the season is scheduled for November 22 at the Sangnoksu Kim Yeon-koung Gymnasium in Korea. Yonsei University will launch the season by hosting the defending AUBL champion, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, followed by a game against Tsinghua University on November 24.

These matchups lay the groundwork for an Eastern Conference schedule that will continue through March 2027, providing a thrilling start to the competitive atmosphere AUBL aims to foster.

Understanding the Eastern Conference Structure

The Eastern Conference will feature 12 teams divided into four groups of three. Each participating school will compete against its two group members twice—once at home and once away—resulting in four regular-season games per team. This format not only promotes robust competition but also allows each institution a chance to showcase its basketball prowess on its home turf.

In total, nine Eastern Conference teams will secure spots for the Championship Week. The top eight teams by record will advance, but as the defending champion, Shanghai Jiao Tong University will receive an automatic berth. Should Shanghai finish within the top eight, the ninth-place team will qualify for the Championship Week, ensuring that the competition remains intense and engaging.

Southern Conference Heads to Vietnam

In contrast, the six-team Southern Conference will adopt a single-site tournament format held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from April 7 to 11, 2027. The lineup will include universities from Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei, Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Teams will be divided into two groups of three, with the top two from each group progressing to the Final Four. This tournament format not only offers an exciting twist to collegiate basketball but also builds anticipation for the Championship Week, where the tournament’s top three finishers will gain entry.

Championship Week Scheduled for August

The culmination of this thrilling season will take place from August 16 to 22, 2027, during Championship Week. The nine qualifiers from the Eastern Conference, alongside the three from the Southern Conference, will engage in both group play and a single-elimination knockout stage to ultimately determine the AUBL champion.

The expanded season design enriches the competitive environment, allowing university programs to forge international rivalries while providing fans with opportunities to see how their schools stand against formidable opposition from across the region.

The opening tip-off is set for November 22, and this season is poised to redefine the landscape of university basketball in Asia.

Source: Asian University Basketball League press release