HAIKOU, China, Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The first-ever APAC Women's Basketball Challenge, hosted by Realeague, has successfully wrapped up in Haikou, China. Bringing together elite women's basketball teams from Mainland China, New Zealand, and South Korea, the competition aimed not only to showcase talent but also to create opportunities for growth, cultural exchange, and community development within the sport.
Highlighting Teams and Player Stories
The competition featured premier teams from across the region, including Guangdong New Century Basketball Club and Beijing Shougang Greatwall from China's WCBA, Tokomanawa Queens from New Zealand's Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, and Seodaemun Women's Basketball Team from Korea Basketball Federation. Each team brought its unique style and story, contributing to the diversity of the competition.
On the court, Guangdong New Century Basketball Club claimed the championship after four days of exhilarating competition, defeating New Zealand's Tokomanawa Queens in a tightly contested final. Reflecting on the experience, Acting Head Coach of Guangdong New Century Basketball Club, Huang Sijing, said, "The APAC Women's Basketball Challenge is a great start, because we have the same goals—to push Asian basketball onto the world stage. We don't take these opportunities for granted and hope to see more high-level teams competing in the future."
Seodaemun's Head Coach and legendary figure in South Korean women's basketball history, Park Chan-Sook, added, "This was a great test for our team, and I think the APAC Women's Basketball Challenge is a great experience for all involved. We hope to see more strong teams from South Korea participate in future competitions."
Beyond the court, the competition featured robust media engagement, with over 20 media outlets and influencers on-site to cover the games, generated more than 270 reports. There was also a dedicated media day where players shared their stories and experiences. Head Coach of the Tokomanawa Queens, Tania Tupu commented, "One thing that stood out to me during our experience here is how organized the games and the overall event was. We truly appreciate the opportunity to play in this competition."
Besides the stellar on-court performances, players also participated in local cultural tours, deepening their understanding of Haikou's rich heritage and fostering stronger bonds across the participating nations. These off-court activities enabled players to not only focus on basketball but also to broaden their cultural perspectives, enhancing the overall experience of their time in Haikou.
Impressive Reach and Community Engagement
The APAC Women's Basketball Challenge generated significant attention, with the competition hashtag receiving over 6.3 million views and 500K engagement on competition content across platforms. Realeague's efforts to promote women's basketball were further highlighted through major partnerships. The competition was presented by Hainan Airlines, with Wilson, Master Kong, and Yaolong Intelligence serving as Official Partners, and Migu, Douyin, and RED as Official Media Partners. Along with support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province, these partnerships underscored the collaborative effort to elevate the sport in the region.
Realeague also made strides in basketball development through community engagement - a youth basketball clinic was held during the four-day event, giving local Haikou students a chance to learn from professional coaches and players, promoting both high-level competition and grassroots development.
Supporting the Future of Asian Basketball
The APAC Women's Basketball Challenge serves as a springboard for increased collaboration between regional basketball leagues, paving the way for a more interconnected ecosystem where talent, ideas, and opportunities flow freely across borders. This aligns with Realeague's mission of creating a basketball league model that can unite the various regional leagues into one cohesive network.
Realeague is committed to building on the success of this year's competition and expanding the efforts to give women's basketball the visibility, resources, and opportunities it deserves. With an eye toward future events, deeper partnerships, and broader outreach, Realeague is setting the stage for basketball in Asia to take its place on the global stage.
About Realeague:
Founded 2023 in Hong Kong SAR, Realeague is a sports holding company committed to unlocking the potential of Asian basketball through investments and operations of pan-regional competitions. The core management team consists of senior executives from China, USA, Australia, and Singapore in sports, legal, and finance background.
Realeague is also the creator of the Greater Bay Area International Sports Business Summit, which held its first edition in February 2024 in Macao SAR that welcomed 500+ distinguished speakers and guests from around the world, including Chairman of Alibaba and Owner of Brooklyn Nets, Joe Tsai; Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, Anne-Sophie Voumard; President of Chinese Basketball Association, Yao Ming; NBA Legend and Hall of Famer, Dwyane Wade, and many others. Realeague is invested by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund's Greater Bay Area Fund, managed by Gobi GBA.
For media inquiries, please contact media@therealeague.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
The APAC Women's Basketball Challenge Marks a New Chapter for Asian Basketball
The APAC Women's Basketball Challenge Marks a New Chapter for Asian Basketball
The APAC Women's Basketball Challenge Marks a New Chapter for Asian Basketball
TECNO and Lay Zhang's shared spirit inspires Southeast Asian youngsters to stop at nothing in taking every step to achieve their dreams.
HONG KONG, JAKARTA, Indonesia, MANILA, Philippines and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative technology brand TECNO, together with its global brand ambassador Lay Zhang, is poised to ignite the aspirations of Southeast Asian youngsters through the launch of its "Unstoppable Step" film. This hero film will kick-off TECNO's brand campaign in the Southeast Asia region, appealing to ambitious and passionate youngsters who admire Lay's spare-no-efforts attitude to making every step count on the path to achieving their dreams. Themed as #UnstoppableStep, the campaign launch is scheduled for today, coinciding with Lay's birthday, symbolizing a new start on an unstoppable journey.
The film weaves together Lay's story of fearlessly taking every single step, with the indomitable spirit of today's Southeast Asian youngsters, in an inspiring and uplifting narrative. The film begins from Lay's perspective, offering a glimpse into his own ascent to the stage he loves, step by determined step. Simultaneously, the film presents a parallel journey of young individuals in Southeast Asia who share the same spirit, and admire Lay Zhang for his determination to take steps forwards no matter what challenges lay ahead. Among Lay Zhang's millions of passionate fans and young followers, there are skateboarders, tirelessly perfecting their tricks, aspiring DJs crafting beats with dreams of stardom, performers, diligently rehearsing their singing and dancing, and more. Each of these individuals is on a unique path, driven by a passionate pursuit of their goals and aspirations, just like Lay.
In June 2024, TECNO officially named Lay Zhang as its global brand ambassador. The partnership between the brand and the acclaimed star is rooted in a shared embrace of a "Stop At Nothing" ethos and a mutual commitment to driving progress through action. Since 2009, Lay has chased his dreams, at first as a trainee idol, tirelessly overcoming the intensive training and challenges that lay before him. In 2012, Zhang debuted as a member of the K-pop sensation EXO, quickly gaining popularity across Asia. This year, Lay released his newest album, "STEP," signifies a deliberate and steady march towards growth and advancement, underscoring the significance of incremental progress and the recognition of each step taken.
Lay's unwavering drive in chasing his dreams step by step, undeterred by any obstacle, perfectly aligns with TECNO's "Stop At Nothing" ethos, inspiring an attitude of unceasing determination. Lay has not only continued to excel in the music and dance fields, but he has also become a prominent figure in reality shows, TV dramas, and movies. In every domain, he commits wholeheartedly, chasing and realizing his dreams with unwavering determination.
Embracing the challenge of the unknown, Lay asserts, "As long as we dare to take that step, there will inevitably be new outcomes. Even if we encounter failure, so what? It's just a step in the journey."
Lay's unwavering dedication to his dreams mirrors the dynamic spirit of Southeast Asia's emerging youth, aged 15 to 35, who make up 23% of the region's demographic. Their impact extends beyond mere numbers, as their influence on the international stage is gradually emerging. The determined dream-chasing ethos of Southeast Asia's young generation is a clear testament to the region's thriving progress. They are actively shaping a dynamic and hopeful blueprint for Southeast Asia's future and the world at large.
"As Lay marks another year of growth, we are thrilled to join him in this celebration," stated Laury Bai, Chief Marketing Officer of TECNO. "Through this campaign, TECNO aims to forge a deeper emotional connection with the youth of Southeast Asia, inspiring them to steadfastly follow their dreams, just as Lay has done."
The campaign will extend into the year-end shopping season, with TECNO encouraging audiences to share their "Unstoppable Step" stories on social media to win prizes, including Lay's signed photos, merch T-shirts, and TECNO smartphones.
The "Unstoppable Start with a Single Step" campaign is an in-depth interpretation of TECNO's "Stop at Nothing" spirit. In recent years, TECNO has tapped into its profound insights into the youth of Southeast Asia, weaving the brand's spirit into innovative campaigns tailored to resonate with local audiences. The 2023 "Never Not Ready" campaign in the Philippines exemplified this approach, spurring the Filipino youth to ascend to greater heights. Through these campaigns, TECNO's commitment extends beyond the realm of technology; the brand aspires to be a guiding force for youth across the globe, inspiring them to persistently explore and pursue their dreams with determination.
About TECNO
As a global innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 markets, TECNO has been committed to revolutionizing the digital experience in global emerging markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. TECNO offers a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of "Stop At Nothing", TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals, inspiring them to never stop pursuing their best selves and their best futures. For more information, please visit TECNO's official site: www.tecno-mobile.com.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
TECNO and Lay Zhang Jointly Launch "Unstoppable Step" Film, Encouraging SEA Youngsters to Harness the Power of Every Step that Counts for Better Self
TECNO and Lay Zhang Jointly Launch "Unstoppable Step" Film, Encouraging SEA Youngsters to Harness the Power of Every Step that Counts for Better Self
TECNO and Lay Zhang Jointly Launch "Unstoppable Step" Film, Encouraging SEA Youngsters to Harness the Power of Every Step that Counts for Better Self
