The Guangdong Provincial Men’s Basketball League has reached an intense point after two thrilling rounds, and the battle for advancement in each group remains wide open. Much like a fiercely contested BD Cricket Match, the level of competition is tight, unpredictable, and filled with twists that keep fans on the edge of their seats. Among the standout stories is Chaoyang, a rookie team making its debut in the league. Despite losing their first two games by a combined margin of just 8 points—three to Qingyuan and five to Heyuan—their tenacity and competitive spirit have earned them widespread respect.

So far, 25% of teams have opened the new season with a 2-0 record. But can you guess all five? Chances are, you won’t get them all right. Zhuhai, Heyuan, Qingyuan, Shunde, and Yangjiang are the five unbeaten teams. Among them, only Heyuan and Shunde made last year’s top eight. Zhuhai, who finished tenth a year ago, stunned Yunfu on the road in the opening round. Qingyuan, who placed twelfth last season and played without their star player Li Yiyang, has shown solid consistency. Yangjiang, last season’s ninth-place finisher, edged Huizhou with a dramatic buzzer-beater in round one and then defeated an improving Maoming squad in round two. Next, they’ll challenge reigning champions Dongguan in what promises to be a marquee matchup.

Out of the 20 participating teams, 11 have already tasted victory—meaning over half the league has broken their winless streak. These include traditional powerhouses like Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Heyuan, and Shunde, as well as up-and-comers like Shantou, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, and Zhuhai. The league is shaping up to be a true free-for-all, with a wide-open race that may not clarify until deep into the regular season.

Chaoyang, initially flying under the radar, has quickly proven they’re not just here to make up the numbers. In their first game, they led for most of the match against Qingyuan before narrowly falling. In round two, they faced dark horse Heyuan and despite trailing most of the game, they refused to back down, using intentional fouls in the final minute to fight to the end. Ultimately, they lost by just five points. Of the 16 games played so far, five have had a margin of five points or fewer—31.25% of all matches—meaning nearly one in every three games is a nail-biter. This includes Yangjiang’s stunning one-point buzzer-beater over Huizhou and bottom-ranked Shaoguan’s near-upset of perennial top-eight squad Shunde, where they lost by only three points.

Interestingly, only two teams have cracked the 100-point mark so far—last year’s champion Dongguan and runner-up Shenzhen. In the second round, no team reached triple digits, reflecting a noticeable shift in league dynamics. Teams are focusing more on defense, and it’s paying off. Over the years, squads have gradually developed structured defensive systems, a rare emphasis in amateur leagues. While this stat might not make headlines, it’s a positive sign of the league’s growing professionalism.

As the third round approaches, all 20 teams have now made their debut. And just like a high-stakes BD Cricket Match where every run counts, this year’s provincial league has made one thing clear: each group’s qualification spots are still up for grabs, and nothing is set in stone. Fans can expect even more fireworks in the rounds to come.