THE ASIAN UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL League (AUBL), which lays claim to the status of Asia’s premier pan-regional intercollegiate basketball league, Friday announced the closing of its Series A funding round.
The round was led by Blue Pool Capital, the family office of Alibaba co-founder and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, building on his seed-round investment last May.
Prominent new investors included Avenue Capital Group, led by Marc Lasry, former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks; Nan Fung Group, a leading Hong Kong-based conglomerate; HSG (formerly Sequoia China), one of Asia’s most influential venture-capital firms; Bolt Ventures, the family office of Philadelphia 76ers co-owner David Blitzer; and Yao Ming, global basketball icon and former Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) president.
Blitzer and his Bolt Ventures were recently in the news back in India as a part of the investment consortium that bought IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a $1.78 billion (₹16,706 crore approx) “all-cash” deal from Diageo-owned alcohol major United Spirits Limited USL.
AUBL, which is sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF), captured global attention with its successful debut last summer – a seven-day tournament in Hangzhou featuring world-class production and Asia’s 12 top college basketball teams, drawing over 65 million live streaming views and more than 29,000 live fans. Under Armour and J.P. Morgan Private Bank are among the first brands to partner with AUBL. In December, the league also launched Hoop Scholars, its youth development initiative, in Hong Kong.
With this newly raised capital, AUBL unveiled its competition plan for 2026-2027:
AUBL 2026 Tournament: Action returns to Hangzhou, China on August 2-9 as a standalone tournament. 12 elite university basketball programs from Greater China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and first-time entrants from the Philippines and Australia will compete for the second AUBL championship title. Participating schools will be announced in May.
AUBL 2026-27 Season: 16 top Asian university teams will make history with AUBL’s inaugural home-and-away season, tipping off in late November 2026 and running through early April 2027 with games staged across Asia’s most iconic cities. Detailed format and schedule will be announced later this year.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our Series A investors.” said Jay Li, CEO and co-founder of AUBL. “The response last year to our debut season confirmed what we believed from the start: there is a real appetite for a platform like this across Asia. Schools, coaches, players, and fans are ready for something bigger. We’re focusing on three priorities right now: world-class event management for home-and-away operations, community engagement centered around students and alumni, and authentic touchpoints to inspire youth through our Hoop Scholars initiative. Our ambition is not just to run a league; it’s to spark a movement that turns Asian university sports into a cultural force.”
AUBL’s Series A notably brings together three current or former NBA team owners – Tsai, Blitzer, and Lasry – whose collective backing signals conviction in AUBL as a cornerstone in today’s increasingly integrated global basketball ecosystem.
“Attending last year’s AUBL Finals in person and witnessing first-hand the energy in the arena, the passion of the fans, and the level of play on the court further reinforced my belief that the league is headed in the right direction.” said Tsai. “This exceptional group of investors proves the potential is real and will help fuel AUBL’s next phase of growth as a pan-regional basketball platform.”
“Collegiate basketball in Asia is ripe for transformation – and the AUBL has established a pan-regional model that positions it as a leader,” said Lasry. “Fans are ready to embrace college sports with the same energy that defines its success in the U.S. and Avenue Sports is excited to partner with the league at this important moment.”
“It’s exciting to be part of AUBL’s journey. There’s real opportunity in global youth and amateur sports. I’ve known Jay for many years, and I believe that under his leadership, this league will make a strong impact on the future of international basketball in Asia.” said Blitzer.
AUBL marks Yao Ming’s first investment in an emerging sports league.
“Getting rejected by an NCAA college remains one of the regrets of my playing career.” said Yao. “With AUBL, I’m proud to be able to support the right platform for student athletes in Asia and also to be a diehard fan cheering for my Alma mater…SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY FOR AUBL CHAMPIONS!”
