05-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Chinese Basketball Association could bring back promotion, relegation in expansion plans
The return of promotion and relegation in the top-tier Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league competition could be on the cards, amid reported plans by the sport's governing body in China to expand the midseason CBA Cup tournament to include teams from the lower division.
And the Hong Kong Bulls, reigning champions in the National Basketball League (NBL), which is China's second-tier basketball league, could be among the first teams to benefit if they reach the playoffs this season.
Doing so would allow them to join the CBA Cup tournament later this year.
Leo Sun Xinwei, general manager of the Bulls, said it was likely the top four teams in the NBL would join the 20-team CBA Cup in two phases, in December and next February.
'I believe we could have the opportunity to participate in this competition. Playing in it would mean we can gauge the situation of operating a team at the top level, and understand the gap with the CBA teams.
Leo Sun Xinwei, general manager of the Hong Kong Bulls. Photo: Handout
'We could be of similar standard, but these are opportunities to learn more as a team, and it will allow the Bulls to develop and grow further.'
