A ZheBA game tips off in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, on July 12. [Photo/Tide News]

In Quzhou this July, the heat on the court rivaled that of the summer sun, as the Zhejiang Provincial City Basketball League — known as "ZheBA" — tipped off across the region.

As the province's largest and most competitive grassroots basketball event, ZheBA brings together teams from all 90 counties and districts across Zhejiang, each vying for hometown pride.

The Quzhou division began on July 12, with six local teams — from Kecheng, Qujiang, Longyou, Jiangshan, Changshan, and Kaihua — going head-to-head in a regional showdown. Held in Quzhou's historic city center, the preliminary matches will run through July 26, with games every Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 pm.

Launched as a locally organized mass sports initiative, ZheBA has sparked more than just on-court excitement. According to Quzhou's culture and tourism bureau, local tourist attractions saw a 25 percent year-on-year increase in visitors during the tournament.