Boss Yao gives struggling team a shot in the arm

SHANGHAI: With hot cheergirls, stands full of enthusiastic spectators and stars sitting courtside, you could be forgiven for thinking you were at an NBA game.

Toss in the presence of Houston Rockets star center Yao Ming and the Shanghai Sharks opening game of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season on Saturday evening had all the feel of a prime-time game in the US.

However, as the new boss of his home side, Yao not only brought a US-style opening ceremony to the competition but also put together a fighting team on the floor.