CBA season opener: Excitement at new format

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The Beijing Ducks welcomed the team tied for the most titles in league history, eight-time champions Guangdong Southern Tigers, at Wukesong Arena in Beijing on Sunday night. The Ducks have won three championship titles in the past six years, with the most recent in 2015, while their opponents haven't lifted the trophy in five years.

Most fans came late to the game, due to heavy traffic and a hazy day in the Chinese capital. The challenging conditions didn't stop them from enjoying the first game of the new season which saw Guangdong, led by veteran Yi Jianlian, hoping to get their season up and running with a win in front of the famously hostile Ducks crowd.

The new season will see more games a week, as well as an extended season, meaning more games scheduled for fans to enjoy.

Guangdong Southern Tigers' Yi Jianlian (L) in action during their game against Beijing Ducks on October 21. /VCG Photo

With thousands of supporters cheering in the background, the opening game tipped off. In the early stages the players failed to match the energy levels of the crowd with the Duck's young squad failing to find their rhythm and both sides struggling on offense and defense.

The Southern Tigers led for most of the night, even though the Ducks managed to mount a comeback in the third quarter. The visitors were the more stable team, while their hosts paid the price for some sluggish defense. A crucial three from Malcolm Delaney put the Southern Tigers up by four late on and eventually handed them an 87-84 victory.

The new format will be an exciting experiment for the CBA. Even with names like Stephon Marbury missing from the league's roster, the league hopes to grow under the guidance of NBA Hall of Famer and CBA President Yao Ming as Chinese basketball marches on.