The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) has unveiled its new tournament, the CBA Club Cup, set to debut in the 2024-25 season. The announcement was made during a press conference on Thursday, where the draw results for the group stage were also revealed.
The Club Cup will feature all 20 CBA teams, divided into four groups. Each team will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage, which will follow a single-elimination format.
In a departure from traditional CBA games, Club Cup matches will consist of four 10-minute quarters. Teams can utilize foreign players up to eight times per game, compared to the CBA's limit of seven.
The Club Cup is scheduled to take place between November 2024 and February 2025. Qingdao from Shandong Province and Shenzhen from Guangdong Province have both expressed interest in hosting the tournament.
The group stage draw is as follows:
Group A
- Guangzhou Loong Lions
- Tianjin Pioneers
- Guangdong Southern Tigers
- Beijing Royal Fighters
- Jiangsu Dragons
Group B
- Zhejiang Golden Bulls
- Jilin Northeast Tigers
- Zhejiang Lions
- Sichuan Blue Whales
- Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin
Group C
- Shenzhen Leopards
- Shanghai Sharks
- Ningbo Rockets
- Shanxi Loongs
- Fujian Sturgeons
Group D
- Qingdao Eagles
- Liaoning Flying Leopards
- Nanjing Monkey Kings
- Beijing Ducks
- Xinjiang Flying Tigers
The 2024-25 season marks the 30th anniversary of the CBA since its establishment in 1995.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
