Shao Tiangang is merely one player from Jilin Rongyao, who won the KFC national 3-on-3 Youth Basketball Championships on Saturday. He is desperately trying to emulate American basketball heroes.

For the 17-year-old from Jilin Province in Northeast China, the biggest compliment is to be told he plays like Michael Jordan.

The NBA all-time great has such a huge influence on Shao that he closely imitates every facet on and off court - wearing a pair of Nike Air Jordans, scoring with lay-back shots and hand-changing slam dunks. He punched his fists in the air as the championship was won, just like Jordan after winning the NBA championships.

"I take the championship as my Christmas present," said a joyful Shao. "My idol is Jordan, I learned everything from him."

Shao is just a part of the NBA invasion in China.

Chinese star centre Yao Ming, who plays for Houston Rockets, is not the only focus any more. Just have a look at the numerous Chinese youths who fancy basketball and represent the nation's future basketball power - they talk like NBA, dress like NBA, act like NBA and play like NBA.

"I enjoy the NBA because I really benefit from its spirit," said Shao. "The NBA players are mentally and physically strong as they never say give up."

Following the waves of interest that two NBA-style "China Games" have stirred, China's basketball has started frenziedly copying every aspect, from the CBA, the nation's top professional league, to an amateur league just like the KFC Championships.

Known as the biggest national league for China's young hoopsters, the championships went into the final in an NBA-like package last Saturday.

Six energetic middle school basketballers performed a high-intensity match amid deafening hip-hop music, cheerleaders and screams and thousands of fans.

Jilin Rongyao beat Shandong Weifang First High School in two games to take the title.

Fans, mostly teenagers, gave the winners a real champions' welcome as they rushed to their idols for photographs and signatures.

"I just want to join in the match as much as I can," said Zhang Fan, a local middle school student dancing to the music in the stadium and yelling "defense" loudly when her favorite team lagged behind. "This is a cool experience to enjoy a match in this way."

The KFC Championships, lasting for four months, have attracted nearly 50,000 of China's young amateur basketballers across the country since September.

"The league gives our players a precious opportunity to steel themselves," said Li Chao, coach of the champions. "We have faced great a challenge in previous matches but we have finally toughed it out."

Next year's Championships will start in May and more teenagers are expected to join in this basketball fiesta, according to Li Yuanwei, director of the Basketball Administrative Center.

(China Daily December 27, 2004)