Japan’s B.League will hold its first-ever overseas regular-season games at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines on September 9 and 10.
On those dates, Levanga Hokkaido, featuring Dwight Ramos as its Asian import, will face the Gunma Crane Thunders, which has AJ Edu serving as its Asian import, in Pasay City.
A Step in Japan’s B.League Expansion
The announcement was made Thursday at SM Megamall by Nao Okamoto, a B.League executive officer.
“The Philippines has produced more Asia Special Quota players for B.League than any other country or region, creating a special bond between us,” he said.
Meanwhile, B.League Chairman Shinji Shimada expressed his excitement about the development.
“We are truly delighted to host the B.League’s first-ever overseas games in the Philippines, a country filled with passion for basketball,” Shimada said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone in the Philippine basketball community for their tremendous support in making this project possible, as well as to all the players who have served as bridges between our two nations.”
Since the league’s official creation in 2015, this will be the first time B.League games are staged outside Japan.
A Step Ahead of the PBA
Much like the NBA Global Games in 2013, this marks the first time the Philippines will witness two basketball teams competing with rosters primarily composed of non-Filipino players.
Of course, Ramos and Edu are both Filipinos, but eyes will also be on the full roster of Levanga and Gunma, which will feature some of Japan’s best players and a few foreign imports to boot.
This move by the B.League is a step ahead of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in terms of global expansion and audience reach.
The PBA has staged multiple overseas games, particularly during the mid to late 2010s. As recently as October 2025, the league held games in Dubai, featuring a matchup between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Miguel Beermen.
However, the upcoming games between Levanga Hokkaido and the Gunma Crane Thunders present a strong opportunity to attract even more Filipino fans to the B.League.
While the PBA often stages games in Middle Eastern countries, its primary goal is not necessarily to attract new non-Filipino fans, but rather to give overseas Filipinos the chance to watch games live.
More B.League Games Soon? KBL to Follow?
The success of these two-day B.League games in the Philippines could pave the way for more in the future.
Meanwhile, the Korean Basketball League (KBL), which has also recruited a handful of Filipino players such as Kevin Quiambao, might also consider staging its own overseas games in the Philippines if the B.League games prove successful.
In the end, fans will have the chance to see their favorite players compete on home soil without the Gilas Pilipinas jersey. At the same time, the general public gains more options to support new basketball teams, expanding beyond the PBA and the NBA.
