Macau Giant Pandas
| Macau Giant Pandas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| League | All-Macau Basketball League The Asian Tournament East Asia Super League PBA (guest) | |||
| Founded | 1989[1] | |||
| History | List
| |||
| Arena | University of Macau Sports Complex The Venetian Macao | |||
| Location | Macau | |||
| Team colors | Black, green, gold, white | |||
| Team manager | Mark Dandan | |||
| Head coach | Marcus Elliott | |||
| Ownership | Jacque Ruby | |||
|
| ||||
| Macau Black Bears | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 澳門黑熊 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 澳门黑熊 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Macau Black Bears | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 南海龍獅 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 南海龙狮 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Nanhai Kung Fu | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 南海功夫 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Chong Son Kung Fu | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 忠信功夫 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The Macau Black Bears, also known as the Macau Black Knights and the Macau Giant Pandas (PBA-only), are a Macanese professional basketball team.
Originally based in mainland China, they played under a different name when debuting at the ASEAN Basketball League in 2017. In 2018, they moved to Macau, becoming the Macau Black Bears, and kept on playing in regular seasons of the ABL until 2020. They debuted at the East Asia Super League as representatives of the city in its 2024–25 season. They entered the Philippine Basketball Association, playing as a guest team in the 2026 Commissioner's Cup, and the 2026 Governors' Cup.
History
Chong Son Kung Fu
Macau Black Bears was originally a basketball team based in mainland China which played in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).[2][3] The team was based in Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong and played their home games at the 4,000-seated Nanhai Gymnasium. They joined the ABL from 2017–18 season as Nanhai Long Lions, the affiliate team of Guangzhou Loong Lions.[4] They changed their name to Nanhai Kung Fu[2] to differentiate from their mother team.[5] After they partnered with Macau's Grupo Desportivo Chong Son, they changed the name once again, to Chong Son Kung Fu Basketball Club by November 2017.[5]
Macau Black Bears
After the 2017–18 ABL season, the team relocated to Macau to become the Macau Black Bears, in a bid to promote professional basketball in the city. The inaugural season was led by the general manager Lukas Peng.[6]
They reached the playoffs in their first season (2018–19) representing Macau. The next iteration of the ABL, the 2019–20 season, was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team remained active via the 3x3 basketball format, competing in the 3×3 Super League and the Wynn Cup 3X3 Greater Bay Area Tour in China.[7]
The Macau Black Bears got promoted from the junior to the senior category of the Macao Silver Medal Basketball Tournament in 2019.[8] In 2023, the Black Bears began taking part in The Asian Tournament.[7] It also joined the 2023 ABL Invitational.[9] They won their first senior title in the All-Macau Basketball League in February 2024.[10] This was followed by the Macao Silver Medal Tournament defeating Fukien in the senior final in May 2024.[8] They joined East Asia Super League, starting with the 2024–25 season.[7][11]
PBA entry
On 6 February 2026, it was announced that they will join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as a guest team in the upcoming PBA Comissioner's Cup,[12] and change their name to the Macau Black Knights after Star Entertainment invested in the team.[13][14][15][16] Special player eligibility rules were imposed for the purpose of their PBA participation. Players from Greater China are considered as "locals", while they can have two imports and only one can play at a time.[17] They cannot have Filipinos in the roster.[18] They plan to be a permanent member in the PBA.[19] On March 25, the team have announced that they would replace Garrett Kelly as their head coach, after bringing in former player Marcus Elliott.[20]
The Macau Black Knights was granted the permission to take part at the 2026 PBA Governors' Cup as a guest team.[21] Ahead of the conference start in July, Macau changed their branding again, to the Macau Giant Pandas for the PBA.[22]
Continued Macau domestic participation
Locally, they compete in the Macao Silver Medal Basketball Tournament as of 2026, as the Macau Black Bears.[23][24]
Team image
The team is part of the Macau Black Bears Sports Club,[25] dating back to 2018.[6] The earlier logo features Bobo the Black Bear,[6] an individual asian black bear who came to public attention in the 1980s when it was rescued from being cooked in a gourmet restaurant as a cub.[26] In early 2026, the team changed their branding to the Macau Black Knights, with the bear given a knight's armor.[25] The team retained the name Black Bears for domestic tournaments.[16]
For the purpose of their participation in the PBA, the team adopted the name Black Pandas in June 2026, to promote the city's giant pandas.[22]
Current roster
PBA
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.svg.png){kind=small}
EASL
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
| Macau Black Bears roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coaches
.svg.png)
Charles Dubé-Brais (2017–2018, 2022–2023)
Mu Jianxin (2018–2019)- Charles Hantoumakos (2019–2020)
Kevin Connelly (2023–2025)- Garrett Kelly (2024–2026)
- Zhou Lu Nan (2025–2026)
- Marcus Elliott (2026–present)
Mark Dandan (TAT) (2026–present)
Season-by-season record
| Season | League | Team name | Regular season | Post season | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||||||
| 2017–18 | ASEAN Basketball League | Chong Son Kung Fu | 15 | 5 | .750 | 1st | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost in semi-finals to Mono Vampire | |||
| 2018–19 | Macau Black Bears | 14 | 12 | .538 | 6th | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost in quarter-finals to Singapore Slingers | ||||
| 2019–20 | 7 | 7 | .500 | 6th | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Asia | ||||||||
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | .500 | 5th | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 2024–25 | East Asia Super League | 3 | 3 | .500 | 3rd in Group B | Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2025–26 | 0 | 6 | .000 | 4th in Group B | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| 2025–26 (Commissioner's) | Philippine Basketball Association | Macau Black Knights | 3 | 9 | .250 | 11th | Did not qualify | ||||||
| 2025–26 (Governors') | Macau Giant Pandas | 2 | 6 | .250 | 6th in Group A | To be determined | |||||||
Affiliates
References
- ↑ https://www.theasiantournament.com/all-teams
- 1 2 "ABL 2017-2018 Season Preview: Nanhai Kung Fu Basketball Club". ASEAN Basketball League. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ↑ ""南海龙狮队"组建成功 将战东南亚联赛". myzaker.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ↑ "Nanhai Long Lions to Lead the ABL to a New Frontier". ASEAN Basketball League. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- 1 2 "Kung Fu Partners with Macau Sports Club". ASEAN Basketball League. 21 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Chong Son Kung Fu Relocates and Rebrands to Macau Black Bears". ABL. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- 1 2 3 Dias, Erico (9 December 2024). "Who are the Macau Black Bears?". Macao News. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- 1 2 "Black Bears Defeats FuKien to Claim First Victory in Senior Category of Silver Medal" (PDF). Desporte de Macau - Macao Sport (1). Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government: 42. 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "澳門黑熊重振「熊風」 ABL及本地賽兩不誤" [Macau Black Bears revive their “Bear Spirit,” balancing the ABL and domestic competition]. Macau Sports Weekly. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "2024年度全澳籃球聯賽圓滿結束 黑熊次回再破昊駿 首奪高級組錦標冠軍" [2024 All-Macau Basketball League concludes as Black Bears defeat Haojun again to win first Senior Division title]. Macau Sports Weekly. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ Ramos, Gerry (14 August 2024). "Hong Kong Eastern, Macau Black Bears join expanded EASL". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
- ↑ "The Black Bears are coming in the Commissioner's Cup". PBA.ph. 6 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ "本澳職業籃球隊黑熊將改名為黑騎士" [Macau professional basketball team, Black Bears will be renamed Black Knights.]. TDM - Teledifusão de Macau, S. A. (in Traditional Chinese). 6 February 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ "黑熊變革"澳門黑騎士"" [Black Bear transforms to "Macau Black Knight"]. Macao Daily (in Chinese). 7 February 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ ""星娛樂"入主"澳門黑熊職業籃球隊" 將以"澳門黑騎士"隊名全新出發" [Star Entertainment has taken over the Macau Black Bears Professional Basketball Team, which will be rebranded as the Macau Black Knights.]. Macau Sports Weekly (in Chinese). 7 February 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- 1 2 Huang Guilan. "職業球隊「黑熊」變革引思考 澳門體育產業發展的新契機 – 新華澳報" [Black Bears' professional-team transformation prompts reflection and opens new opportunities for Macau's sports industry]. Jornal San Wa Ou (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ Terrado, Reuben (13 March 2026). "Macau vows to fight and compete like guest teams in the past". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ Ramos, Gerry (3 February 2026). "Macau barred from signing up Filipino players for PBA guest stint". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ Tolosa, James (6 March 2026). "Macau Black Knights eye permanent PBA membership". Fastbreak. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Macau Black Knights tap Marcus Elliott as new Head Coach". Fastbreak PH. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ↑ Ramos, Gerry (19 June 2026). "Macau Black Knights returning as guest team in PBA Governors' Cup". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- 1 2 Henson, Joaquin (26 June 2026). "From Bears to Pandas". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "中國澳門籃球總會 主辦 2026 全澳籃球銀牌賽 男子高級組比賽賽制" [Organized by the Basketball Association of Macau, China 2026 All-Macau Basketball Silver Medal Tournament Men's Senior Division Competition Format] (PDF). Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- ↑ "高級組進入外援時代 澳彩大勝全華班黑熊" [Senior Division enters the foreign-player era as Macao Slot defeats all-local Black Bears]. Macau Sports Weekly (in Chinese). 2 February 2026. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
- 1 2 Javier, Paige (11 March 2026). "Macau Black Knights to bank on familiarity in debut as PBA guest team". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ↑ "Government wants to move Bobo to new home 'to enjoy old age'". Macau News. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
External links
- Chongson Kung Fu page at the ABL official website (archived)
- Macau Black Bears on Instagram
- Macau Black Knights on Instagram
