The 13th Yao Foundation Charity Game wrapped up on Aug 17 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center — in Hangzhou, capital ofEast China's Zhejiang province — bringing together basketball legend Yao Ming, Chinese basketball standouts and a roster of NBA and overseas stars for a night that combined competition with philanthropy.

Headlining the International Basketball Star Team were Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma, Mac McClung, Metta World Peace, Cuttino Mobley, Robert Edwards and Joseph Young.

They faced China's Basketball Star Team featuring Lu Wenbo, Chen Guohao and other CBA regulars, alongside celebrity guests Deng Chao and Liu Genghong. After a high-flying contest filled with alley-oops, deep threes and crowd-pleasing dunks, the Chinese team edged the internationals by 104-102.

Beyond the action, the charity game spotlighted its signature Dream Third Quarter, when 19 rural schoolchildren from the Yao Foundation Hope Project played alongside the stars.

One highlight was 12-year-old Memettursunjan Erkin from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, who plays with a prosthetic leg. His dream of playing in front of Yao came true when Yao presented him with a ball signed by all the players.

Players from rural schools compete during the match. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Since its launch in 2007, the Yao Foundation Charity Game has become one of China's most influential sports philanthropy events. Over 18 years, it has supported more than 6,000 rural schools and reached nearly 7 million students with basketball training, volunteer teaching and school facilities.

"The game has grown from a young project into a mature platform that inspires hope through sports," said Yao, chairman of the foundation.