The Chinese first-division basketball league, Chinese Basketball
Association (CBA), accepted a newcomer from Taiwan province to
compete in the new season, the Chinese Basketball Management Center
(CBMC) announced Sunday.
The Taiwan (Suzhou) Sina Lion club, which is supported by China's
biggest website sina.com, will
be the 13th team in the nation's top-level league, CBMC's Vice
president Wang Du said on a press release.
It
is the first time a professional sport team from Taiwan province to
join in China's domestic league.
The Sina Lion will play its first game against Beijing Ducks, led
by one of the Walking Great Wall center trio, Menk Batere, at home
in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, on December 8.
CBMC allows 17 players to be registered in the team with most of
them to be recruited from Taiwan province.
(people’s
daily.com.cn 09/17/2001)