DESPITE a lackluster showing in the East Asia Super League (EASL), the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will continue to join the regional tournament as part of the pro league's Season 49 calendar.

League commissioner Willy Marcial said the PBA board of governors approved the pro loop's participation in the EASL following Tuesday's meeting.

Marcial will just meet again with EASL chief executive officer Henry Kerins to discuss the other details.

"We will meet again next week regarding the schedule and what teams will be joining," Marcial said during Wednesday's quick press briefing before the start of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beer and Meralco.

"As to what format and how we can work together [it's still to be discussed] but at least we're OK already with joining the EASL," Marcial added.

The EASL home-and-away tournament opens its 2024-25 season in October.

Meralco and TNT joined the EASL tournament this past season but both squads failed to advance in the final four.

The Chiba Jets, representing the Japan B.League nipped the Korean Basketball League's Seoul SK Knights, 72-69, to capture the championship at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu last March.

Next season, a new set of Asian squads have already secured their spots in the regional league led by B.League champions Hiroshima Dragonflies and the Ryukyu Golden Kings, the Busan KCC Egis and Suwon KT Sonicboom from the KBL, and the New Taipei Kings and Taoyuan Pauian Pilots from the P.League+.

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