The Changwon LG Sakers are poised to make a significant appearance at the BCL Asia 2025, carrying the hopes of ending a long championship drought for Korean teams in Asia's most prestigious club basketball competition. Since Kia Motors' victory in 1992, no Korean team has managed to clinch the top spot, a statistic the Sakers are undoubtedly keen to change as they prepare for the tournament scheduled from June 7-13.

Their journey to BCL Asia was paved by a historic domestic triumph. Changwon LG emerged as the champions of the 2024-25 Korean Basketball League (KBL) for the first time in their franchise history. This monumental achievement was sealed after an intense best-of-seven Finals series against the Seoul SK Knights, which culminated in a dramatic Game 7 victory with a score of 62-58 on May 18. This victory was particularly sweet for one of the KBL's founding members from 1997, as they shed their status as one of three teams never to have won a league crown, fulfilling a 28-year dream.

While this will be Changwon LG's maiden voyage in the BCL Asia, formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, they step onto a stage where Korean teams have previously left a notable mark. In the competition's 44-year history, where only 11 distinct teams have ever claimed the championship title, Kia Motors (to whom Hyundai Ulsan Mobis Phoebus traces its origins) stands as the sole Korean champion, having conquered the 1992 tournament in Bangkok. Collectively, Korean clubs have achieved seven podium finishes: one gold, two silvers, and four bronze medals. The most recent of these was a third-place finish by Seoul SK in Nonthaburi in 2018. The Sakers will be eager to add to this impressive tally.

The team heading to BCL Asia will feature a compelling blend of seasoned veterans and promising talent. Leading the charge is 39-year-old Heo Il-young, who was instrumental in their KBL victory, earning Finals MVP honors. A former member of the Korean national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014, the veteran wing delivered a crucial 14-point performance, including four three-pointers, in the decisive Game 7 of the KBL Finals, securing his third KBL championship with his third different team. Supporting him will be key players such as Darryl Monroe, alongside other local standouts like Yu Ki-sang and Yang Jun-seok, all of whom played vital roles in their championship-winning KBL campaign.