Wuxi players train for the upcoming Jiangsu Basketball City League match. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
The inaugural Jiangsu Basketball City League, dubbed "Su BA", is set to tip off on Sept 4, with host city Wuxi welcoming Lianyungang in its season opener on Sept 5 at the Wuxi Sports Center Gymnasium.
With only a few days left, the Wuxi squad has been putting in intensive training sessions. Head coach Huang Desheng said the team is currently practicing three times a day, accumulating about eight hours on the court. The 20-man roster carries an average age of 29.
What makes this team unique is its makeup: players come from all walks of life, including college students, physical education teachers and corporate employees — many commute from as far as Nanjing, Shanghai and Hangzhou to make practices.
"Tactically, we're emphasizing team chemistry and sharpening our in-game decision-making," Huang said. "As amateur players, we don't necessarily have standout individual skills, so our focus in training has been on collective offense and defense – making the most of what each player does best."
The regular season is set to feature a home-and-away format, with each of the league's 13 teams playing six home games and six road games. Tickets for the opening round went on sale Aug 30 through the "Su Fu Ban" mobile app, as well as Alipay and WeChat mini-programs.
The league represents a new chapter for amateur basketball in Jiangsu, giving grassroots players a rare chance to compete on a provincial stage and for Wuxi, the countdown to its first tip-off is officially on.
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