ESPN5 to broadcast Terrific 12

Filipino fans will get to see San Miguel and TNT's conquest in the Terrific 12 as well as Blackwater's on national television. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Dugout Philippines

MANILA—When San Miguel Beer, TNT Katropa and Blackwater Elite compete against other top pro teams from Japan, China and Korea in the East Asia Super League’s Terrific 12 this September, Pinoy basketball fans can cheer them on via broadcast and online platforms in the comfort of their own homes.

ESPN5 and ESPN YouTube Live will bring the action of this FIBA-recognized premier tournament live from Macao’s Tap Seac Multi-Sport Pavilion from Sept. 17-22 on primetime.

This best-of-the-best Asian basketball competition – now making waves in Asian basketball -- will also be covered by 22 networks on major global broadcast and streaming networks.

The three year-old East Asia Super League was born in Macao in 2017 with just eight teams participating in “Super 8”.

In 2018 the country was represented for the first time by a PBA D-League selection called the iECO Green Warriors in a 12-team competition which renamed the tournament as “Terrific 12”.

Growing bigger by the year, the much awaited toe-to-toe of the top ball clubs in the region has now succeeded at luring top-calibre PBA teams into its orbit.

The three PBA squads will compete in a tournament against four Japanese, three Chinese and two Korean ball clubs: Liaoning Flying Leopards, Shenzhen Aviators, and Zhejiang Guangsha Lions from China; Chiba Jets, Niigata Albirex, Ryukyu Golden Kings and Utsunomiya Brex from Japan; and Jeonju KCC Egis and Seoul SK Knights from Korea.

The ball clubs will be grouped into four brackets with the top team from each group advancing to the semi-finals scheduled on Sept. 21.

The finals will be played on Sept. 22 with the champion going home with a US$150,000 prize.

The runner-up will receive US$100,000 while second runner-up gets US$50,000.

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