Beijing, March 3 (Reporter Li He) On the evening of the 17th, at the Beijing Cadillac Center, the Xinjiang men's basketball team played to the last round and lost to Beijing Shougang 17:97.

This is a "debut" that has been postponed for 16 days - on the eve of the resumption of the third phase of the CBA league, the Xinjiang men's basketball team suddenly announced its withdrawal from the CBA league.

On the evening of February 2, Xinjiang Guanghui Basketball Club officially issued an announcement that the club decided to withdraw from the remaining games and the CBA league. According to the announcement, on February 28, the Discipline and Ethics Committee of the Basketball Association held that Xinjiang Guanghui Basketball Club "registered in violation of regulations" and made serious mistakes, unreasonable and absurd "punishments", which seriously violated the legitimate rights and interests of Xinjiang Guanghui Basketball Club. Xinjiang Guanghui Basketball Club believes that this "punishment" violates the facts, violates laws and regulations, and does not conform to normal work procedures, and cannot be recognized and will never be accepted.

The Xinjiang men's basketball team previously announced

Prior to that, the website of the Chinese Basketball Association published a penalty notice on February 2, which determined that the Xinjiang men's basketball team constituted a registration violation. According to the relevant provisions of the Disciplinary Guidelines and Punishment Regulations of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Measures for the Registration and Administration of the Chinese Basketball Association, the Discipline and Ethics Committee of the Chinese Basketball Association imposed penalties on the Xinjiang men's basketball team.

As a result, Xinjiang's home game against Beijing Shougang on March 3 was cancelled, which also postponed their debut in the third phase indefinitely. In the first seven games of the third stage, Xinjiang did not play and was defeated 1:0.

Until the afternoon of the 16th, Beijing Shougang Basketball Club Weibo released news that the originally canceled 2022th round of the 23-36 CBA League Beijing Shougang and Xinjiang match will be held as scheduled at 3:17 on March 19 (Friday), and ticket sales will start at 35 o'clock on the 16th.

On the evening of March 3, the Xinjiang men's basketball team played against Beijing Shougang. Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan

More than half a month later, the Xinjiang men's basketball team finally stepped on the floor of the CBA league and completed the team's third stage debut. This is also the first performance of the Xinjiang men's basketball team after resuming the home-and-away system after many years of abstinence from the sideline audience.

From the sudden withdrawal to the sudden resumption of participation, the team and the players are just like the outside world, full of confusion and surprise.

Speaking of the current situation, team manager Qiu Biao said half-jokingly in an interview before the game: "It's very simple, we're back. ”

However, he also said that the period before "coming back" was difficult: "We were notified that we would not play for the time being, but we have been training continuously. Like you, we were notified at the same time. Received a notice a day in advance, flew over yesterday. This period of time is indeed quite difficult, after all, it is an unknown state, which still has a great impact on the player's psychology. ”

Abdul Shalamu, the core of the team, described it as "apprehensive, fearful, helpless." "There were all kinds of negative emotions, but I think the team, including the coaches, we were motivating each other and got through the most difficult two weeks." He recalled.

On the evening of March 3, the Xinjiang men's basketball team played against Beijing Shougang. Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan

After resuming competition, the league ranking of the Xinjiang men's basketball team also slipped from 7th before the start of the third stage to 18th, ranking 20rd from the bottom of 3 teams, and it is only theoretically possible to enter the playoffs. However, compared to the previous dilemma of not having the ball to play, players and coaches are optimistic. In addition to results and rankings, there is obviously something more important for the players and coaches of the Xinjiang men's basketball team.

"As professionals, going to the professional arena, this opportunity is so rare, we definitely have to try to win, a lot of fans are expecting us, we will definitely face the night game with a particularly good spirit." Abdul Shalamu said.

As Qiu Biao said: "As professional players and professional coaches, we still have to do our part and give wonderful games to the fans across the country." ”

This attitude continued into the evening game. In Wukesong, known as the "home court of the devil", the Xinjiang men's basketball team maintained a high degree of concentration in the face of the extremely oppressive court atmosphere and the explosive performance of the opponent.

On the evening of March 3, the Xinjiang men's basketball team played against Beijing Shougang. Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan

"Focus" doesn't just exist on the field.

Since the Xinjiang team took the lead at the beginning, shouts and ridicule of "change Zhou Qi" have constantly erupted in the stands. And the Xinjiang fans, who were also watching the game, did not seem to mind.

The cheering team still cheers on the supporting team with the "Flying Tigers Come On" cry between free throws. A pair of fans in the front row talked about the members of their hometown team in the background of the home team audience, sometimes in Mandarin, sometimes switching to their hometown language.

When asked about the content of their conversation, the Xinjiang girl smiled "slyly": "Secret."

But the expression on which she said this was clearly the same as Xinjiang coach Qiu Biao's final statement in an interview after stepping on the field on the day of the game.

At that time, the interview was over, and after Qiu Biao walked out of the reporter who was surrounded by the group, he half-added and half-said to himself: "It's better than anything when you come back." ”