The 2025 CBA All-Star Rookie Challenge showcased the rising stars of Chinese basketball in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, on Saturday. In a thrilling doubleheader, the CBA Freshmen Team edged out Tsinghua University with an 83-74 victory, while Team CUBAL (Chinese University Basketball League) stunned the CBA Sophomore Team, winning 88-78.
To spotlight more emerging talent, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) introduced two games in this year’s Rookie Challenge during the All-Star Weekend. The matches did not disappoint, offering fans a glimpse of the future of basketball.
Twenty-year-old guard Yu Miti Saidake of the Guangzhou Loong Lions led the Freshmen’s charge, scoring 20 points and earning the MVP honors. “This victory means redemption—we suffered a heavy loss against Tsinghua in our youth team days,” Yu Miti shared. “The MVP trophy fuels my drive to keep evolving.”
In the second game, Peking University’s Guan Ziyu powered the collegiate squad with 19 points, also clinching an MVP award. “Since childhood, my goal has been to reach a higher stage of basketball, and I’ve been working step by step towards it,” Guan expressed, clutching his trophy. “Today’s victory came because we were all driven by a strong determination.”
The success of the Freshmen and CUBAL teams underscores the depth of young talent in Chinese basketball, promising an exciting future for the sport in the region.
