On July 20, 2025, the annual basketball competition jointly hosted by HuaYunHui and the College Union Association came to a successful conclusion at Cupertino High School. Twenty-two teams, including 17 men’s teams and 5 women’s teams, were divided into five groups: Open, 35 and over, 45 and over, 55 and over, and women’s, competing through a two-day round-robin format to determine the champions and runners-up in each group. The lively atmosphere of the competition attracted overseas Chinese and basketball enthusiasts, making it a grand event in the Bay Area.
Organizer Song Zhen introduced, “Since 2017, HuaYunHui and the College Union Association have jointly organized this competition, bringing together alumni teams from top universities such as National Taiwan University, Tsinghua University, and National Cheng Kung University, totaling 22 teams with intense competition.” She mentioned that the competition adopted a round-robin format with professional referees and volunteer scorers to ensure fairness. The matches took place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 19 and ended the following day at 6 p.m. This year saw a record-high number of participants, with players, family members, and cheerleading groups filling the sidelines. She revealed plans to introduce a photo area next year to commemorate the winning moments and continue promoting sports for all.
Chairman of HuaYunHui Chen Ligong said, “The enthusiastic registration this year with 22 teams made the schedule intense. Despite the increased venue costs, seeing everyone’s passion makes it worthwhile.” He emphasized that friendly matches promote fitness and connections among overseas Chinese, and he looks forward to optimizing the schedule next year to attract more participants. Executive Committee member Lu Yuzhen added, “For decades, HuaYunHui has organized multiple events independently, with the basketball tournament being the only project jointly organized with the College Union Association. The participation numbers have reached record highs over the seven years of collaboration.” She mentioned that indoor events were temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but have now fully resumed, and they will continue to promote fitness for all.
President of the College Union Association Xie Zaoxun stated, “The Association provides volunteer support for scoring and refereeing to assist HuaYunHui in organizing the competition, with many young Taiwanese students joining us this year. The National Taiwan University Alumni Association formed four teams covering various age groups and the women’s team, showcasing their vitality.” He believed that intergenerational competitions promote interaction between young people and seasoned overseas Chinese, nurturing the spirit of sport.
A female player from the NTU ACE team, an alumna of National Taiwan University, shared, “The women’s team performed exceptionally well this year. The competition was intense, and playing alongside teammates was a joy. The women’s division is highly competitive, with skills matching those of the men’s teams.”
George, a member of the National Taiwan University teams, said, “This year, NTU formed four teams, including Open, 35 and over, 45 and over, and women’s divisions. The matches allow alumni to reunite, make new friends, with particular pride in the women’s team’s participation.”
Ken, a player in the 55 and over group, said, “I’m in my 70s and have always loved basketball. I’ve been playing with teammates for nearly 30 years, regularly practicing fixed hours every week, maintaining good physical condition. Running on the court makes me feel energetic, and basketball brings us together as a team.”
Andrea, the wife of a player in the 45 and over group, Johnson, mentioned, “My husband Johnson loves basketball and practices twice a week. Competing with his teammates is his greatest pleasure. This activity allows them to enjoy sports together.”
Chia-hua Tsai, Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, said, “The involvement of young players and players from various generations has shown me the vitality of youth. This activity promotes exchanges among overseas Chinese and generational inheritance, appreciating the dedication of volunteers.”
Kuei-Feng Kou, a board member of the Fremont Unified High School District, commented, “Cupertino High School has long supported the HuaYunHui basketball tournament. I participated in scoring this time and felt the community’s enthusiasm. This nationwide sports event deserves more support.”
The results of this competition are as follows: The women’s division champions were the Splash Sisters, with NTU ACE as the runners-up. The Open division champions were the Blue Ballers, with NTU-SC as the runners-up. The champions of the 35 and over division were NTU-SC, with Gladiators as the runners-up. In the 45 and over division, the champions were TriCity, with CBF as the runners-up. The champions of the 55 and over division were Gladiators, with SVBC as the runners-up.