At 3:00 PM on July 16, the first qualifying match of the “ZheBA” Ningbo Division tipped off at the Ningbo Sports Development Center Gymnasium, officially launching the Ningbo leg of the competition.

That afternoon, the venue was packed to capacity. Fans held banners and cheered enthusiastically, with waves of applause and shouts echoing throughout the arena as they rooted passionately for the players.

After a fierce two-hour showdown, Cixi defeated Haishu 81–76, earning a triumphant start to their campaign!

“It felt even livelier than a professional game — the fans were like a roaring sea, absolutely electric! The atmosphere reminded me of the CBA championship night 20 years ago! Everyone was cheering for their team — it was absolutely on fire!” said on-site MC Zhu Keyuan.

From the opening tip-off, Cixi took the lead with smooth teamwork and effective tactics. Haishu was not to be outdone, employing a mix of inside drives and outside shots to repeatedly close the gap.

With 2 minutes and 17 seconds left in the third quarter, Haishu's resilience paid off as they tied the game at 57–57, pushing the intensity of the match to its peak.

Entering the fourth quarter, the two teams continued to trade blows in a fierce offensive showdown. Cixi gradually pulled ahead thanks to more consistent play and clutch performances from key players. Haishu responded by adjusting their tactics and tightening up their defence to close the gap once more.

In the final moments, both teams unleashed a flurry of three-pointers, with every offensive and defensive move keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

In the end, Cixi emerged victorious with an 81–76 win.

Notably, off the court, a “shadow battle” of tactics and scouting was also underway. Reporters spotted coaches from other teams in the stands, watching closely to assess the players' strengths and gather intelligence in preparation for their upcoming matches.

As the largest and most prestigious grassroots basketball tournament in Zhejiang Province, “ZheBA” has drawn widespread attention since its inception. Tickets for the opening match in the Ningbo Division were in extremely high demand and sold out almost immediately after release.

Source: Yongpai

Reporters: Zou Xin, Yuan Xianmin and Cui Yin

Editor: Ye Ke