KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia) - Much of the attention will surely be on host team NS Matrix and Pelita Jaya Basketball as another road to the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL) 2025 opens March 24.
The Southeast Asian sides banner Group A of the BCL Asia-East 2025, which takes the spotlight next week in Window 1 of the qualifying tournament for the continent's most prestigious club competition.
It's going to be a long journey ahead for these two - and the rest of the 8-team field, actually - but they wouldn't really mind at all as nothing beats the feeling of entering and competing against Asia's best.
Because the both of them have already experienced as much just last year, when they barged into the BCL Asia inaugurals in Dubai after emerging as the top two teams of the two-round Qualifiers.
The Deers and PJB both missed the Semi-Finals of the meet that was eventually lorded over by Al Riyadi following a five-game sweep, thus their desire to compete in the BCL Asia-East for a shot at the event proper.
But it's not just those two which are motivated to make some noise in the qualifying phase.
There's Bishrelt Metal of Mongolia, who are among the returnees as they also competed in last year's Qualifiers.
Definitely, they're out to better their performance this time around. It could be recalled that they failed to get past the First Round after placing last in Group A with a 1-2 record, with one of their losses courtesy of NS Matrix.
Then there's also Taoyuan Pauian, one of the new competitors aspiring to reach BCL Asia.
It marks the first time since the erstwhile FIBA Asia Champions Cup was rebranded that clubs from Chinese Taipei will be involved in the competition, the other being New Taipei of Group B.
Runners-up to the Kings in the 2023-24 P. League +, the Pilots will be put to the test right away as they will commence BCL Asia-East Preliminary Round action against the Deers on Monday at the MABA Stadium.
Game time is at 20:00 local time, with the 2024 Major Basketball League champions looking, of course, to maximize homecourt advantage in gaining headway in their bid of returning to the big stage.
The Preliminary Round will see games being played over five windows, with each club hosting one round in their country. The top two teams from each group will make their way to the Final Four, to be played in one city.
The top two teams from the Final Four of BCL Asia-East will book their tickets to BCL Asia 2025.
For the complete Preliminary Round schedule, click here.
FIBA