Hong Kong, China, April 9, 2026 – The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL), Asia’s premier pan-regional intercollegiate basketball league, today 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.

The Asian University Basketball League, led by Alibaba co-chairman and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, has completed a Series A funding round of at least eight figures. The Tsai family office, Blue Pool Capital, led the round. Investors include retired NBA All-Star Yao Ming, Marc Lasry's Avenue Capital, David Blitzer's Bolt Ventures, Hong Kong's Nan Fung Group and HSG (formerly Sequoia China). Blue Pool Capital also provided seed funding last year. AUBL will host its 2026 tournament in August in Hangzhou, featuring 12 university teams from across Asia, including first-time participants from the Philippines and Australia. The league will debut a 16-school season running from November 2026 through April 2027. The league aims to build upon established basketball interest in greater China and create an Asian college basketball tradition similar to March Madness.