The Chinese basketball league CBA has introduced a new tournament, the CBA Club Cup, for the 2024-25 season and announced the draw results for the group stage at a press conference on Thursday.

All 20 teams will participate in the Club Cup and were divided into four groups. They will play in a single round-robin schedule before the top-two teams of each group advance to the knockout stage, which will also be a single-elimination contest.

Club Cup games will be played in four quarters of 10 minutes during which each team is allowed to send foreign players to the court for a total of eight times. By contrast, the CBA games are played in four quarters of 12 minutes and the use of foreign players is limited to no more than seven times.

Competitions of the Club Cup will take place in November 2024 and February 2025. Qingdao of east China's Shandong Province and Shenzhen of south China's Guangdong Province have bid to host the tournament.

The draw results for the group stages are as follows:

Group A

1. Guangzhou Loong Lions

2. Tianjin Pioneers

3. Guangdong Southern Tigers

4. Beijing Royal Fighters 

5. Jiangsu Dragons

Group B

1. Zhejiang Golden Bulls

2. Jilin Northeast Tigers

3. Zhejiang Lions

4. Sichuan Blue Whales 

5. Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin

Group C

1. Shenzhen Leopards

2. Shanghai Sharks

3. Ningbo Rockets

4. Shanxi Loongs 

5. Fujian Sturgeons

Group D

1. Qingdao Eagles

2. Liaoning Flying Leopards

3. Nanjing Monkey Kings

4. Beijing Ducks 

5. Xinjiang Flying Tigers

2024-25 marks the 30th season of the CBA since its foundation in 1995.