Jinyu Bolsters Roster with Canadian Center McLoren for Division One Opener Against Happy Valley
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Division One basketball league tips off on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with a compelling opening matchup between promoted side Happy Valley and a strengthened Jinyu squad featuring Canadian import McLoren . The 7pm game at the Hong Kong Basketball Hall marks McLoren's return to Hong Kong basketball after a stint with Japan's Tokushima Brave in the B.League . Jinyu has assembled a roster brimming with professional experience, including McLoren's former Hong Kong Eastern teammate DeVila, to make an immediate impact in the top flight . Meanwhile, Happy Valley enters the contest as heavy underdogs despite their dominant Division Two campaign, relying on youthful talents like 22-year-old Fan Ho-wan to carry their offensive load .
Key Points
- Canadian center McLoren joins Jinyu from Japan's Tokushima Brave, previously played for Hong Kong Eastern
- Happy Valley earned promotion by going unbeaten in Division Two last season
- DeVila, McLoren's ex-Hong Kong Eastern teammate, expressed confidence in their on-court chemistry
- Ng Wai Ho returns to face his former club Happy Valley after joining Jinyu
- Fan Ho-wan, a 22-year-old HKBU player, scored a team-high 18 points in the shield competition
Why It Matters
The match sets the tone for the entire season, with Jinyu signaling their championship ambitions through aggressive roster construction while Happy Valley's youth movement provides an early test of whether their Division Two dominance can translate against superior competition .
The match sets the tone for the entire season, with Jinyu signaling their championship ambitions through aggressive roster construction while Happy Valley's youth movement provides an early test of whether their Division Two dominance can translate against superior competition .