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Mike Chan

Hong Kong Bulls will earn the right to compete in the top tier of the Chinese basketball league if they finish in the top two of the National Basketball League this season and beat one of the two lowly Chinese Basketball Association league teams in a two-leg play-off.
However, a play-off series win would not guarantee straight passage to the top tier for any teams, but only the right to be screened – using several guidelines – by Chinese basketball officials. Teams will then face an anxious wait of 60 days before learning their fate on the CBA website.
While the set of documents released by the sport’s governing body in China was billed as “seeking advice” from the clubs, sources told the South China Morning Post that it would be the final decision and would be implemented next April to bring back the promotion and relegation system – for the first time since 2005 – between the two leagues.
The soon-to-be-announced promotion and relegation system differs from previous versions reported by Chinese media. Still, senior Bulls executives believe “all is good”, given the three-time defending champions had shown their ambition over the past few seasons.
“We proved last year [during the pre-season CBA Cup] that NBL teams were capable of challenging CBA teams,” Bulls general manager Leo Sun Xinwei said. “[The plans were not] the same as what were circulated before, and there will be no expansion to 21 teams for the next season, but it is understandable.

“If four NBL teams manage to crack into the top tier all at once, it might bring a negative effect to the CBA, so the current plans could be slower, allowing capable teams to go up, and ensuring a smoother transition.
“There isn’t any impact for us as we don’t aim to finish second, third or fourth. We always want to win the league, the play-off tie and prepare ourselves for the new chapter.”
The admission checklists for the two Chinese leagues were expected to be similar, with teams awaiting promotion needing to comply with “more than 50 requirements”, including salary cap compliance checks, team training facilities and match arenas.
“I’d say the arena could be our biggest issue regarding the CBA assessment,” Sun said. “Even the NBL has such an assessment, and that’s why we couldn’t play at Southorn Stadium, as it didn’t meet the league’s requirements.”
The next NBL season, which runs from late November to early April, could feature as many as 21 home matches – including the play-offs – for the Bulls, but the team reckon “we could probably host six to 10” at Kai Tak Arena.
That number would only grow in the top-tier league. In the past three seasons, CBA teams have had to play 21, 23 and 26 regular-season games at home.

Finding a permanent arena for their home matches, whether in the NBL or the CBA, has long been the priority of the Bulls officials, but plans to renovate Southorn Stadium “will take more time”, said a spokesman for the Hong Kong Playground Association, which owns the multi-purpose arena in Wan Chai.
“This remains an active project,” Stefan Ma said. “Due to its complexity and the need to integrate various suggestions, the process will take time.
“We will continue working on it to enhance our facilities for the users and public.”
The Bulls have also stepped up and purchased their own NBA-calibre floor to be used at Kai Tak when they play there, drastically reducing the floor changeover time at the arena from “approximately three days to just four hours”.
“We intend to always host our home matches in Hong Kong; we do not want to do it across the border if it’s manageable,” Sun said.


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CBA (Chinese Basketball Association)

Hong Kong Bulls celebrate winning their final match against Changsha in the 2025 National Basketball League. Photo: Xinhua

Leo Sun Xinwei, general manager of the Hong Kong Bulls. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong Bulls’ new signing, Hong Kong international Glen Yang, training with the team. Photo: Handout

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Eric Fok and Hong Kong football bosses have refused to say whether they support Gianni Infantino or not. Photo: Elson Li

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China’s Yang Hansen (centre) competes for the ball with Lebanon’s DJ Funderburk (right) and Omar Jamaleddine during their Fiba World Cup qualifier on Monday. Photo: AFP

Yang Hansen (centre) defends against Lebanon’s Sergio El Darwich, with DJ Funderburk on the right. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Wang Junjie (centre) praised Yang Hansen for his performance. Photo: AFP

Sport

Basketball

China

To win promotion, a team in second tier must finish in top two of NBL, beat a CBA team in a play-off and then be screened by China officials


To win promotion, a team in second tier must finish in top two of NBL, beat a CBA team in a play-off and then be screened by China officials.


National Basketball League (China)

Leo Sun Xinwei

Play-off win by Hong Kong Bulls no guarantee of Chinese Basketball Association league spot

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}To win promotion, a team in second tier must finish in top two of NBL, beat a CBA team in a play-off and then be screened by China officials

To win promotion, a team in second tier must finish in top two of NBL, beat a CBA team in a play-off and then be screened by China officials