On the evening of August 11, the 2026 Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) Championship Final concluded at Hangzhou Binjiang Gymnasium. Shanghai Jiao Tong University defeated Chengchi University, Taiwan Province, China to claim the AUBL championship title, becoming the new champions of Asian university basketball.
From intense defensive battles and physical confrontations to accurate shooting and decisive clutch shots, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team fought with full commitment in every game.
Driven by resilience, determination, and outstanding teamwork, the team brought the spirit of SJTU youth to the Asian stage, demonstrating their passion, perseverance, and competitive excellence.
Xu Yang Honored as AUBL Best Coach
SJTU Players Chen Tiancan and Hu Hui Named to the AUBL Best Five
SJTU Player Chen Tiancan Honored as AUBL Most Valuable Player (MVP)
SJTU Men’s Basketball Team Crowned 2026 AUBL Champions
The 2026 AUBL officially tipped off on August 2, bringing together 12 university men’s basketball teams from eight countries and regions across Asia for an intense competition.
Over eight days of fierce battles and challenging matchups, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team overcame formidable opponents, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, on their journey to the final.
Every victory was hard-earned. With resilience, determination, and an unwavering fighting spirit, the team battled their way to the championship game.
Let’s revisit their remarkable journey —
A Championship Journey Overcoming Every Challenge
Defeating Peking University, Then Overcoming Tsinghua University
AUBL Asian University Basketball League — Road to the Final Highlights
In just three days, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team defeated two powerhouse programs from the Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBAL), sending shockwaves through the competition.
How did this “dark horse” team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University achieve such a remarkable run?
Buzzer-Beating Three-Pointer Seals Victory Over Tsinghua University
August 8 | Semifinal: Shanghai Jiao Tong University vs. Tsinghua University
In the semifinal matchup against Tsinghua University, the two teams battled fiercely from the opening tip, with the score remaining tightly contested as Tsinghua held a slight advantage early on. In the crucial fourth quarter, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team demonstrated remarkable resilience, with the lead changing hands repeatedly. Trailing by six points in the final moments of regulation, the team refused to give up and fought back to tie the game at 74–74, forcing overtime.
Semifinal Overtime Thriller
In overtime, every possession became a heart-stopping battle between the two teams. With only seconds remaining before the final buzzer, SJTU delivered a stunning high-difficulty banked three-pointer at the buzzer to take the lead. With an 84–82 victory, SJTU completed a dramatic game-winning finish and advanced to the AUBL Championship Final for the first time in program history.
Rising Against the Odds: SJTU Overcomes Peking University
August 6 | Quarterfinal
In the quarterfinal matchup, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team faced Peking University, who entered the game with an undefeated group-stage record. The two teams battled fiercely throughout the contest, with the lead changing hands repeatedly. Peking University managed to extend their advantage to double digits in the third quarter, but SJTU refused to back down. Demonstrating remarkable resilience once again, the team fought back to level the score at 70–70 with three minutes remaining. Under immense pressure in the decisive moments, SJTU held their composure, relying on clutch free throws and key defensive plays to complete the comeback. With a 79–77 victory, SJTU edged past their opponents by two points and advanced to the semifinals.
One Win, One Loss: SJTU Advances Through a Thrilling Group Stage
August 2–3 | Group Stage
Day1
Day 2 Shanghai Jiao Tong University vs. Chengchi University, Taiwan Province, China,
During the group stage, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team faced the National University of Mongolia and defending champions Chengchi University, Taiwan Province, China. With a second-place finish in the group, SJTU advanced to the quarterfinal knockout stage.
What we witnessed was…
The fearless spirit of SJTU —
a team that dares to rise to the challenge, even in the face of adversity.
Hu Hui (Center) Delivers the Game-Winning Shot Against Tsinghua University
Perseverance
After hitting the game-winning shot in the semifinal, Hu Hui credited the victory to the team’s collective perseverance: “Before the game, Coach Xu Yang told us to fight until the very end and never give up. Everyone on the court stayed united and fought together. No one gave up.”
— Hu Hui, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team player, in a post-game interview
Xu Yang (Center) in the Post-Game Interview
Resilience
“Our team emblem is the eagle. The height an eagle reaches is not only determined by how high it can fly, but also by the courage and determination it shows when it spreads its wings against the wind. This resilience and refusal to give up go far beyond the outcome of any single game.”
— Xu Yang, Head Coach of SJTU Men’s Basketball Team, in a post-game interview
Narrow Victory Over Peking University
Fighting Spirit
From reaching the CUBAL National Final Four for the first time last year to defeating two powerhouse teams, Peking University and Tsinghua University, in this year’s AUBL, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team has proven one thing through their performance:
Winning a game is determined not only by talent and strength on paper, but also by the courage to rise to the challenge and fight through adversity.
— Xinmin Evening News report (Reporter: Li Yuanchun)
Xinmin Sports | Witnessed by Yao Ming: How SJTU Men’s Basketball Team Defeated Peking University and Tsinghua University in the Asian University Basketball League
Howard, Yao Ming, and Zhang Weili (from left to right, front row)
Fighting Spirit
The semifinal also featured a special witness — Yao Ming, a legendary figure in Chinese basketball and a distinguished alumnus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Alongside his former Houston Rockets teammate Juwan Howard and UFC champion Zhang Weili, Yao watched the thrilling game from the sidelines. After SJTU’s game-winning shot, Yao Ming could not hide his excitement, celebrating with a smile that quickly became a memorable moment. Following the game, Head Coach Xu Yang shared an emotional embrace with Yao Ming. He said: “Today, we demonstrated the spirit of SJTU Men’s Basketball Team. To complete the game-winning shot in front of Senior Yao Ming makes this victory even more meaningful.”
— Xinmin Evening News report (Reporter: Li Yuanchun)
SJTU Men’s Basketball Team Advances to the AUBL Final with a Buzzer-Beating Victory Over Tsinghua University — Can This ‘Dark Horse’ Create Even Greater Surprises?
Passion
Hu Hui’s game-winning shot, Chen Tiancan’s triple-double, Yu Zihan’s three-point barrage, Wang Yan battling through injury, and every teammate on the bench rising to cheer and support… A group of people united by a shared goal gave everything they had, turning the impossible into possible time and time again. They embodied the spirit of the eagle in its most vivid form and showed fans the most passionate and inspiring side of university basketball.
— Oriental Sports Daily report (Reporter: Xue Sijia)
Making History with Back-to-Back Victories over “Qingbei”: SJTU Advances to the AUBL Final
The final buzzer sounded.
From a two-point victory in the quarterfinals, to a buzzer-beating overtime triumph in the semifinals, and finally a hard-fought battle that lasted until the final moment of the championship game, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team gave everything they had for one shared goal.
Time and time again, they turned the impossible into possible.
Facing elite opponents and challenging rivals, they battled against the odds and rose above every obstacle. Through one hard-fought game after another, SJTU Men’s Basketball Team wrote a story of perseverance, determination, and dedication on the Asian stage — a story that goes far beyond wins and losses.
We are the champions!
Congratulations to SJTU Men’s Basketball Team!
（Source: SJTU | Original link: https://en.sjtu.edu.cn/news-events/news/3380）
