Fans on their feet as Hong Kong’s A1 Division basketball league returns with a roar
- Hong Kong’s A1 Division Championship basketball made its comeback on Tuesday night with two games at a packed Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai
- ‘We have been waiting a long time for Hong Kong basketball lovers to come out and support us,’ says Shung Tak Alumni Eagle guard Bryant Austin
Fans were back in the stands for the restart of Hong Kong’s A1 Division Championship basketball league on Tuesday, with a roaring Southorn Stadium eager to see live sports return to the city.
After a stop-start season that has dragged on for almost three years, fans were treated to some thrilling play, as Shung Tak Alumni Eagle clinched a razor-close 92-91 win over Nam Ching in the dying seconds of the night’s opening game.
“We’ve waited six months for this,” Shung Tak guard Bryant Austin told the Post after the game. “It’s really good to have an atmosphere and finally give something back to the fans who have waited so long to come out and support us.”
Austin was the top scorer for Shung Tak with 36 points, matched only by Nam Ching guard Cheng Hoi-on, who shot 29 for his side.
The current season was abruptly halted in January amid Covid-19 restrictions brought on by a fifth wave of infections in the city, and the fitness of the players were pushed to the limits.
“I feel exhausted,” Austin said. “To be honest it’s going to take us a few more games to get back into shape after not playing for so long.
“It’s tough on the body, but this is what we signed up for. We’ve had a couple of practices but there’s no substitute for getting on the court and playing games.”
