Basketball and soccer leagues to take Guangdong by storm

Two major sporting events have been scheduled for 21 cities across southern China's Guangdong province, authorities announced on Saturday.

The Guangdong Basketball League (Guangdong BA) and the Guangdong Soccer Super League will boast a lineup which will be divided into two major regions – 11 teams in the eastern part of the Pearl River and 10 in the river's western area.

With them setting records in terms of breadth of participation in Guangdong's basketball and soccer competitions, the tournaments are also aiming to become some of the largest provincial leagues in the country.

The top two teams from each region will directly advance to the quarterfinals, while teams ranked 3rd to 6th in each region will face off against their counterparts from the other region to determine the remaining four spots in the quarterfinals.

In terms of player eligibility, the events emphasize a strong grassroots nature and local representation. Players are generally expected to have a strong connection to the city they represent, with restrictions on professional athletes participating.

The minimum age for players in both events is set at 16, allowing teenagers the opportunity to compete alongside adults and bridging the gap in talent development. The upper age limit for participants is extended to 40 and 45 years, respectively, enabling veteran players to continue representing their home cities.

The basketball league will begin in Guangzhou, the provincial capital city, on March 21, while the soccer league, with 123 matches during the competition, is scheduled for late April.

The basketball league offers tickets at two prices – 8.8 yuan ($1.28) and 18.8 yuan for each regular match. Tickets are priced at 8.8 yuan for each soccer match.