The Shanghai Sharks have etched their name in basketball history, claiming the first-ever CBA Club Cup title after a nail-biting 89-80 victory over the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in Xi'an. The new tournament, added as an exciting mid-season showcase during the 2024-2025 CBA season break, delivered a final packed with momentum swings and superstar performances.
Former NBA guard Eric Bledsoe stole the spotlight with a championship-winning 31-point explosion, including 15 clutch points in the third quarter that shifted the game's trajectory. 'Both teams left everything on the court,' Bledsoe told reporters after receiving MVP honors. 'When the coach called my number late, I knew it was time to step up for my team.'
The Sharks' road to victory wasn't smooth – they trailed early against Xinjiang's suffocating defense before rallies led by Wang Zhelin and Kenneth Lofton (perfect 8/8 on free throws) set the stage for Bledsoe's fourth-quarter heroics. Xinjiang's Abudushalamu Abudurexiti made a valiant 22-point effort but couldn't halt Shanghai's championship charge.
While the tournament results don't affect regular season standings, the intensity proved CBA clubs are raising their game. With 18-24-year-olds making up 42% of viewership for such events, this victory cements the Sharks' appeal to basketball's next-generation fanbase across Asia and beyond.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
