CBA: Bayi Rockets, China’s army team, confirm they have pulled out of basketball league
- Country’s most successful team cut ties on Monday after no show at season opener on Sunday, no reason given for decision
- Founded by PLA members in 1955, team never signed foreigners but Wang Zhizhi became first Chinese player in NBA ahead of Yao Ming
The Bayi Rockets, the team of the People’s Liberation Army, have confirmed that they will no longer play in the Chinese Basketball Association’s men’s or women’s leagues this season, the CBA announced on Tuesday.
Bayi’s demise had been long rumoured and further fuelled by the men’s team not turning up to the men’s league bubble in Zhiju, Zhejiang province. They missed their season opener on Sunday, with the Beijing Ducks handed a 20-0 walkover win.
The CBA said they were told in a letter on Monday that both teams would withdraw from the new seasons. No reason was given for the decision by the league.
“The Bayi Spirit will always inspire us to remain true to our original aspiration and forge ahead,” the CBA said of the army team, which was historically China’s most successful.
Bayi, which means August 1 in Mandarin, was founded by members of the PLA in 1955. The name refers to the date of the founding of the PLA, which is celebrated as “Army Day” in China.
Before joining the CBA in its 1995 debut season, Bayi won several national titles. This domination continued in the early CBA days with Bayi winning the first six titles and eight overall. The last of these came in 2007.