By Darius
Have you ever attended a basketball game at an arena? If so, where did you sit?
Well, this time, I got to sit courtside for an NBL game!
On July 31, my colleague and I headed to Southorn Stadium to catch the Hong Kong Bulls taking on Shijiazhuang at home. Our goal was to capture some great shots of the players we interviewed. Originally, we planned to leave once we got the footage we needed—but the game was so thrilling that we ended up glued to our seats until the final buzzer.
The first half was evenly matched, but in the third quarter, Shijiazhuang's half-court offense started crumbling. The Bulls seized the momentum with fast breaks, quickly widening the gap to a double-digit lead. By the fourth quarter, the game was essentially in garbage time, though fans still got what they came for—the much-anticipated appearance of Hong Kong's own Ricky Yang.
There's no denying it—you have to be close enough to the players to truly experience the magic of live basketball. Every burst of speed, display of raw power, and intense physical clash unfolds right before your eyes.
Worth mentioning: This game marked the farewell of the Bulls' import player, David Scott James Jr, who had to leave the team due to personal reasons. Post-game, the Bulls bid him goodbye on social media. He finished with 19 points, including several emphatic dunks.
Compared to arenas in other parts of the country, Southorn Stadium—nestled in Hong Kong's space-starved urban core—might seem "compact." But as the saying goes, "Small sparrow, complete organs" (a Chinese idiom meaning "small but fully functional"). The atmosphere was electric. We arrived an hour and a half early, shooting plenty of pre-game warm-up footage and getting familiar with the venue.
Of course, as someone who appreciates beauty in all forms, I couldn't overlook the Bulls' cheer squad, Taurus. My colleague and I made sure to capture their dynamic performances—after all, our audience would surely enjoy the view too. Dubbed "as dazzling as any girl group," Taurus delivered high-energy routines during timeouts and halftime. Paired with the Bulls' stellar plays, it was truly a feast for the eyes (and soul) of this basketball-loving man.
Looking back, while it didn't quite match the grandeur of watching the NBA at Crypto.com Arena, the game was well-organized, fast-paced, and packed with adrenaline—thanks to the roaring crowd, players, and coaching staff. We got great shots and an even better experience!
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