College Hoops in Asia Soars With Launch of Asian University Basketball League (AUBL)

HONG KONG-Today, the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) announced a seed round investment led by Blue Pool Capital. The newly raised capital will fuel the AUBL’s inaugural season in August 2025 and further the league’s vision of unlocking the massive potential of college basketball in Asia.

The AUBL is a pioneering pan-regional intercollegiate competition featuring Asia’s most prestigious university basketball programs, anchored by top teams from Greater China, Japan, and Korea. The groundbreaking new league will bring the energy and excitement of university sports and “March Madness” level fandom to the region, creating exciting rivalries and showcasing Asia’s top talent to a global audience.

The formation of the AUBL is sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF), the governing body of university sports in Asia. In November 2024, the AUSF and Hong Kong-based sports holding company Realeague reached an exclusive strategic partnership to jointly create the new league.

“With close to 1 billion basketball fans in Asia, we see that the most untapped potential in the entire basketball ecosystem exists here at the college level,” said Jay Li, CEO and Co-Founder of the AUBL. “Passionate fans, intense competitive energy and an incredible spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship are at the core of the sport’s DNA. We aspire to build a history-defining league that will accelerate the sport’s development and trajectory by bringing top collegiate teams from Asia together.”

This summer, the AUBL is set to host its inaugural season through a single tournament format from August 18 – 24 in Hangzhou, China – a city renowned for blending AI innovation with cultural heritage. With 24 exciting games over the course of 7 days, Asia’s 12 best college basketball teams will convene and compete for the first-ever AUBL Championship. Starting in 2026, the AUBL will present a full home-and-away season format that spans over 6 months, culminating in a “Final Four” championship tournament at a pre-determined site.

The list of participating universities in the AUBL’s 2025 season includes the following institutions:

• Etugen University (Mongolia)
• Hakuoh University (Japan)
• Konkuk University (South Korea)
• National Chengchi University (Chinese Taipei)
• Nippon Sport Science University (Japan)
• Peking University (China)
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
• Taiyuan University of Technology (China)
• Tsinghua University (China)
• University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
• Yonsei University (South Korea)
• Zhejiang University (China)

“As a former student-athlete, I appreciate the value of college sports for both participants and their communities," said Joe Tsai. "In Asian society, top-tier universities are among the most recognized brands, and they easily translate into sports through the spirit of competition between schools. That's why I believe in the AUBL's vision. Asia's growing basketball market, rising talent, and increasing institutional support create the right conditions for a successful collegiate league.”

About the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL)

Sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF), the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) is a pan-regional intercollegiate basketball league spotlighting Asia’s most prestigious university basketball programs, anchored by top teams from Greater China, Japan, and Korea. In 2025, the AUBL will take the format of an elite tournament from August 18-24 in Hangzhou, China. From 2026 onwards, the AUBL will present a full home-and-away season format. The AUBL provides a platform for elite student athletes in Asia to showcase their basketball talent while elevating the culture and development of Asian collegiate sports to the next level.

About the Investors

Blue Pool Capital is the family office of Joe Tsai, Chairman of Alibaba Group and owner of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.

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