Reigning Asian champions China aim to defend their title as the 20th Asian Men's Basketball Championship opens today in Harbin, in the far northeast of the mainland.
With Yao Ming in the side, China will be seeking revenge on South Korea, who defeated them in the Asian Games final in Busan last year.
Hong Kong are in Group A with Lebanon, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan - their opponents in the championship's opening match at 10am today.
As if it were needed, there is even more incentive for the mainlanders to win the 16-team competition.
If China can defend this title, they will clinch the only ticket for Asia to compete in the Athens for the men's basketball tournament at next year's Olympic Games.
China have dominated the event in the past. Four years ago they won their 11th Asian men's title and the only berth for Asia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics by defeating South Korea in the final.
At the last championships in 2001, China beat Lebanon in the final, with Yao Ming the tournament's most valuable player.