Hong Kong’s Oliver Xu and Ma Kong-san drafted into Chinese Basketball Association
Xu and Ma are the seventh and eighth players from the city to reach the league, following the likes of Poon Chi-ho, Duncan Reid, Lo Yi-ting
Hong Kong pair Oliver Xu and Ma Kong-san have found their way into the Chinese Basketball Association after both were selected at the league’s draft on Saturday.
Xu, 29, was taken by Nanjing Monkey Kings with the No 9 pick in the opening round, while Ma, 24, was picked up by Sichuan Blue Whales in the second round, with the overall No 22 pick.
Nanjing and Sichuan finished 12th and 19th, respectively, in the 20-team league last season.
The 6ft 2in (1.90-metre) Xu, who plays as a guard, joined the Japanese B League 3 side Iwate Big Bulls at the start of the year, averaging 10.6 minutes, 4.0 points, and 1.6 rebounds in 26 matches.
The Hong Kong international went to the United States in July to feature in the Drew League, a pro-am basketball league held every summer in Los Angeles, and did not return to Qingdao for the draft.
Ma, who previously played professionally in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, had spent the past two seasons with local A1 Division side Shung Tak Eagles. He was at the Guoxin Gymnasium for the draft and the 6ft 8in centre went onto the stage to put on a Sichuan cap after his name was called.