Cautiously yet resolutely, the Chinese Basketball Association tipped off its long-awaited league restart with a bang over the weekend, raising hopes of a nationwide sports revival following the long lull in action due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Even with empty arenas and stringent virus-control measures reminding that the risk of infection remains alive, the return of the CBA after a five-month hiatus has lifted the country's spirits. And after serving up 10 high-octane games, the players' joy at getting back on the floor was there for all to see.

"After spending so long waiting, we are so thrilled to get back to business again," Zhejiang Lions head coach Li Chunjiang said after his squad beat the Nanjing Monkey Kings 112-95 in the first game of the resumed season on Saturday in Qingdao, Shandong province.

"All our players did their utmost to prove that our effort during the break is worthwhile and they've lived up to fans' expectations."

Before tip-off in that opener, all players, coaches and league officials, including CBA chairman Yao Ming, stood in solemn silence with their heads bowed in remembrance of the lives lost to the coronavirus, with giant posters depicting star players and medical workers enhancing the poignancy.

All the action is being preceded by similar pre-game tributes, with the CBA determined to remind everyone involved of the great effort and sacrifice made across the country in order for the league to restore normalcy, according to hoops legend Yao.

'Beyond the game'

"As the first major national sports league to restart in China, the CBA has a far-reaching significance for promoting work resumption and restoring our everyday life. Its social impact has gone beyond the game itself," Yao said in a statement ahead of the first game.

The restart, which was overseen by the country's top respiratory experts, sees the 20 league clubs divided into two groups, based in Qingdao and Dongguan, Guangdong province, respectively. They will finish the remainder of the regular season over the next month behind closed doors before the top 12 teams contest a shortened postseason, which will feature one-off knockout games in the first two rounds.

With spectators not allowed to attend as part of the strict infection control and prevention measures, team jerseys and mascots occupied seats in both arenas, while videos showing fans cheering and audio recordings simulating crowd reactions were played.

The absence of their home-court crowds didn't take much of the energy off the court, according to players.

"I don't think it (the empty arena) had too much influence on us," young forward Li Hongpeng of the Monkey Kings said.

"We still heard the fans chanting (from the loud speaker) and we had a great setting at the stadium with all the mascots and posters on display. It was enough to energize us on the court."

As the world's first major pro basketball league to resume action amid the pandemic, some of the CBA's high-profile foreign players, who managed to return China before the country imposed a temporary foreign entry ban on March 28 to contain imported infections, are relishing the opportunity to hoop again.

"The most important thing is we can play again," said Beijing Ducks' American guard Jeremy Lin. "I'm grateful for the CBA's efforts to give us a chance to play again."

Lin holds court

Lin's commitment to helping the three-time champion Ducks regain its supremacy was underlined in the team's 91-82 victory over league powerhouse the Liaoning Flying Leopards on Saturday in Qingdao.

Lin, who averaged 24.2 points and 5.8 assists in the Ducks' first 30 games before the season halted in late January, managed only 13 points against Liaoning but still proved pivotal by dishing out six assists and hitting a decisive jumper to give Beijing a double-digit lead with two minutes left.

"The CBA league's restart means a lot to the revival of global sports, hopefully it can give confidence to other basketball leagues and players," said Lin, who joined the capital franchise last summer from the NBA champion Toronto Raptors.

With more than half of the teams playing with all-Chinese rosters due to the foreign-entry restrictions, nine-time champion the Guangdong Southern Tigers appears an even a stronger title contender with prolific American swingman Sonny Weems staying with the team throughout season break.

The former NBA journeyman, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls at 39th overall in 2008, contributed a game-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds and seven assists as Guangdong thrashed the Shanxi Loongs 105-82 on Saturday.

"I think more than anything we are just happy to be back on the court and we are excited the season restarted," Weems said after the victory－his team's 14th straight win of the campaign.

Asked why he didn't leave China when the outbreak started to spread in late January, Weems cited his commitment to helping Guangdong win its 10th league title.

"Just me wanting the championship," said the 33-year-old native of Arkansas. "It's my duty to help this team to win the championship ... that's the most important thing. We are family. If they are going through something, we are going to go through the things together."

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