Meralco Bolts forward Cliff Hodge during an East Asia Super League (EASL) game against Busan KCC Egis.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–The PBA will only have one team for the East Asia Super League which was expanded to a 12-team field for its 2025-26 season that opens in October.

Monday’s announcement revealed that the PBA representative, which to be determined later on, will play in Group B along with Taiwan’s P.League+ champion Taoyuan Pilots, Japan’s B.League runner-up Ryukyu Golden Kings and the Macau Black Bears, who usually play in The Asian Tournament.

READ: PBA: San Miguel, Meralco off to EASL

In Group A are B.League winner Utsunomiya Brex, losing P.League+ finalist Taipei Fubon Braves, Hong Kong Eastern and Korean Basketball League second placer Seoul SK Knights.

Placed in Group C are Japan’s Emperor’s Cup runner-up Alvark Tokyo, Taiwan’s TPBL winner New Taipei Kings, KBL champion Changwon LG Sakers and Mongolia’s The League titlist Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos.

The PBA will still figure out which team it will send, but the past season saw 2024 Philippine Cup champion Meralco and 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup titlist San Miguel Beer representing the league in the recent EASL campaign.

READ: EASL looking to address PBA ‘challenges’

Meralco came one win short of becoming the first PBA team to make the Final Four while San Miguel failed to garner a single victory.

In the 2023-24 EASL, Meralco and TNT combined for just two wins, with the former actually taking the place of Barangay Ginebra despite not winning a title in any of the three conferences of the 2022-23 PBA season.

The EASL tips off on Oct. 5, with the PBA team set to debut on the 26th. The top two teams in each group will advance into the round-of-six set in March, the league said.