Cebu U15 Stars to Train in Okinawa After Historic EASL Future Champions Victory
AI-assisted original article by 1news, based on reporting from Philstar.com. Featured image credited to the source.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) realized a long-held vision last weekend with the successful staging of the inaugural Future Champions Elite All-Star Tournament at the Kai Tak Arena Sports Hall in Hong Kong. This grassroots U15 competition, conceptualized by EASL CEO Henry Kerins, aimed to replicate the excitement of the EASL Final Four while spotlighting emerging basketball talent across Asia.
Kerins has overseen the transformation of EASL from a series of summer pocket tournaments into a fully-fledged annual home-and-away league. The league began with eight teams in its first season, expanded to 10 in the second, and 12 in the third. For the upcoming fourth campaign, EASL plans to grow to 16 teams, including two slots allocated for Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams. Eleven teams have already qualified, including Hong Kong Eastern and Hou Chon of Macau. Early qualifiers also feature three Taiwan P.League+ teams, three Japanese B-League squads, two Korean Basketball League clubs, and Mongolia’s Xac Broncos. Discussions are ongoing with teams from Mainland China to join the league.
A significant recent development has been the partnership between EASL and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which will see three EASL teams qualify for the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia. This affiliation strengthens EASL’s global recognition and opens pathways for participation in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
The Future Champions program serves as a grassroots development platform designed to identify and nurture U15 basketball talent across Asia. Cebu, which hosted EASL’s first Final Four, was selected to represent the Philippines in this pioneering initiative. In April, over 200 barangay players in Cebu participated in tryouts, with 40 selected for an intensive eight-week training program led by EASL-mentored coaches. From this group, 10 players were chosen to form the Cebu City Elite All-Star squad.
The Cebu roster included Domenic and McDome de Asis, Kent Labitad, Venz Nadela, Dwayne Rojo, Dereck Wenceslao, Ian Inocencio, Duke Tadlas, Kieffer Villarin, and Brix Hernando. The team was coached by Joel Co, a former University of San Jose-Recoletos guard. Cebu began the tournament with a loss to the Hong Kong A-City Dragons, 36-27, but bounced back with victories over Macau (20-17) and the Hong Kong B-Jungle Kings (31-20). In the championship game, Cebu defeated Macau 61-52 to claim the title.
The victory sparked celebrations in Cebu, where fans gathered around roadside televisions to watch the live YouTube stream of the final. Present in Hong Kong to witness the triumph were Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Erika Dy, Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Dr. Rhoel Dejano, and SBP Region 7 head Popoy Navarro. Upon returning home, the team received a hero’s welcome at Cebu Airport. This marked the first time a Philippine team has won an EASL title, breaking a three-season streak without a Final Four appearance.
Kerins described the event as “awesome,” highlighting the weekend’s basketball festivities that included public booths, interactive activities, and merchandise stands. Looking ahead, five Cebu players—Kent Labitad, Venz Nadela, Dwayne Rojo, Domenic de Asis, and Dereck Wenceslao—are scheduled to travel to Okinawa later this month. There, they will join other top Asian U15 players in a youth training academy organized by the Ryukyu Golden Kings. Additionally, four Cebu players have been offered athletic scholarships by the University of San Jose-Recoletos, further supporting their basketball development.
Through initiatives like the Future Champions program and its expanding league structure, EASL continues to foster basketball growth both on and off the court, providing young athletes with opportunities to develop their skills and gain international exposure.