The EASL Finals 2026 press conference was held yesterday at integrated resort Studio City in Cotai, as Asia’s top basketball teams gathered in Macau ahead of the semifinals.
EASL stands for East Asia Super League.
Representatives from four semi-finalists – Alvark Tokyo, Ryukyu Golden Kings, Utsunomiya Brex, all from Japan, and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots from China’s Taiwan region – attended the event alongside EASL founder and CEO Henry Kerins and Studio City’s Senior Vice President and Property General Manager Kevin Benning.
Kerins highlighted Macau’s long-standing role in the league’s development, noting that the city has hosted EASL events since 2017. “Macau has been part of our story from the very beginning,” he said. “What we’re building here – bringing Asia’s best teams together in one of the region’s great cities – is exactly the kind of integrated sports experience that puts Macau on the map for the right reasons,” Kerins added.
Meanwhile, Benning underlined that hosting the event for a second consecutive year reinforces Macau’s positioning as a hub for major sports events. “For us, this is about more than just hosting a tournament, it’s about bringing that ‘Fun Never Ends’ energy to life for fans across the region,” he noted.
The semifinal matches are scheduled today at the Studio City Event Centre, with Ryukyu Golden Kings facing Utsunomiya Brex, followed by Alvark Tokyo against Taoyuan Pauian Pilots.
Speaking at the press conference yesterday, Alvark Tokyo’s Kai Toews said the team had endured a demanding season leading up to the finals. “You know, for us it’s been a very long season for the B-League and all the Japan games. We’ve had a lot of injuries, but throughout all that our team has really fought through to get as many wins as possible to come to this point,” he said. “Obviously, there’s no time for us to even talk about motivation. This is a big opportunity for us and we’re ready to play tomorrow”.
Meanwhile, Ryukyu Golden Kings’ Ryuichi Kishimoto highlighted the challenge of adapting to different styles of play in the tournament. “It’s different to the league we play in Japan. There are a lot of things that we don’t do well as a team. It happens a lot in the game,” he said. “In that sense, as a way of fighting, I think that the team’s ability to adjust is being tested. In that sense, depending on the country, there are various styles of basketball. So, while adjusting in the game, personally, I’m looking forward to playing against foreign players.”
The winners will advance to the final, competing for a top prize of US$1.5 million (12.18 million patacas), as the tournament “continues to strengthen Macau’s profile as a destination for international sporting events”, according to statement by EASL yesterday.
Ryukyu Golden Kings’ Ryuichi Kishimoto speaks during yesterday’s press conference at Studio City Macau in Cotai.
EASL founder and CEO Henry Kerins (right) and Studio City’s Senior Vice President and Property General Manager Kevin Benning address yesterday’s EASL Finals 2026 press conference at Studio City in Cotai. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
