Students have a ball in Hong Kong

The game had the spectators on the edge of their seats, with a halftime score of 44-41. As the second half progressed, the intensity heightened, with both teams exchanging baskets and three-pointers.

Whenever a player went for a fast break, the audience, made up of people from varied age groups, erupted, cheering in a mix of Cantonese, English and Mandarin.

Battling it out on court were teams from Peking University and Yonsei University.

It was the latter that emerged victorious.

Led by the outstanding 20-year-old guard Lee Ju-young, who scored 22 points, Yonsei defeated Peking University 93-87, which was led by 19-year-old forward Guan Ziyu, who also had 22 points in the game.

It was the final of the Asian University Basketball Challenge, which took place at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Center in Hong Kong from Nov 28 to Dec 1, serving as a test event for a brand-new Asian collegiate league scheduled to launch next year.

The new league has been sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation, established in 1992 with the goal of providing a platform for university students across Asia to engage and interact through sports. It will be operated by the Hong Kong-based sports holding company, Realeague.

Wong Chi, a sports enthusiast and Hong Kong resident, brought his teenage son to watch the four-day invitational tournament.

"There are few opportunities in Hong Kong to witness such exciting matches in person. The two teams represented their respective universities, and even their countries, well. The games are intense, and both players and spectators were highly spirited," he said.

Wong, an alumnus of Tsinghua University, came to cheer on his alma mater, which secured third place in the tournament.

"The Tsinghua team has sharpshooters. Even in tense moments, the players exhibited precise ball handling. I admire how the Tsinghua team stuck to their playing style, regardless of whether they were winning or losing," he added.

Wong shared that he has been watching CBA games online since he was young, and closely follows the Hong Kong A1 Division Championship, the special administrative region's top men's basketball league.

"Both my son and I are looking forward to watching the Asian collegiate league live next year," he said.