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Sharks get new sponsor, eye playoffs
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THE Shanghai Sharks aim for a playoff spot in the new Chinese Basketball Association season after naming a new major sponsor for the club.
Yao Ming’s club announced a new major sponsor earlier this month — video-sharing website Bilibili — ending a seven-year deal with previous sponsor tire-maker Maxxis. The team was then rechristened, Shanghai Bilibili Basketball Club, though it’s still nicknamed the Sharks.
The deal sparked an enthusiastic response from fans and netizens, especially young followers. Bilibili is themed around anime, manga and game fandom, while featuring a real-time overlaying subtitle system for interactive playback experience. Some also think putting “Bilibili” into the team’s name is funny.
“I have visited the company and a lot of its staff are born after 1995,” Yao said during the club’s new season kickoff ceremony at Pudong’s Yuanshen Stadium yesterday. “Young and sunny, that’s what our club needs.”
Yao said the deal marks a new start for the team. “We want to become a strong title competitor in five years’ time. The efforts we have made in the past two seasons have helped us move forward,” the former Houston Rockets star added.
The Sharks failed to make the playoffs for a second straight year after finishing 12th in the 20-team league in the 2015-16 season. They had a 18-20 record.
Coming into the new season, which kicks off tomorrow, the club has signed two new foreign players — French power forward Guerschon Yabusele and American guard James Taft “Jimmer” Fredette. It has also appointed Australian Brian Goorjian as new assistant coach to work with head coach Liu Peng.
“The ability and playing attitude of the two new players won accolades during preseason games and training,” said Liu. “The team is ready to fight towards the goal (of advancing to the playoffs).”
Yao did not reveal details of the Bilibili deal, though anime elements were spotted at yesterday’s ceremony — the press room was decorated with cartoon images of Sharks’ players while cheerleaders were dressed up like cartoon characters.
“The Sharks’ qualities, including vitality and persistence, match with Bilibili very well,” Chen Rui, president of Bilibili, said, adding that the firm was still working on promotional plans for both parties.
The Sharks’ first match of the new season is an away game against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls on Sunday. They will take on Jiangsu Tongxi in their first home match on November 2.
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