Law enforcement agencies in California and community members came together with one message: You play basketball, we give back. On November 23, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple and the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Los Angeles Chapter hosted the third annual Hsi Lai Cup Charity Basketball Tournament at the Hsi Lai Center.

With support from the CHP Santa Fe Springs Area Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, City of Industry, officers traded in their uniforms for jerseys, using basketball as a vehicle for service. Admission to the tournament was a brand-new toy, and nearly 300 participants donated gifts to bring holiday cheer to children in the community.

The event opened with an honor guard led by Hsi Lai Girl Scouts Troop 18894, carrying the U.S. flag, California state flag, BLIA flag, and Buddhist flag. After students from Glen A. Wilson High School performed the national anthem, the youth players took the court.

In the first matchup, the CHP Santa Fe Springs Explorers faced the LASD City of Industry Explorers. The LASD team advanced to play the Hsi Lai TAG Hoopers, ultimately clinching the youth championship with a close 15–13 victory. Mascots—Chipper of the California Highway Patrol and Tagster of the Hsi Lai TAG Hoopers—kept the crowd energized. With fast breaks, tight passes, and aggressive rebounds, applause and cheers filled the gym with every possession.

The adult division featured four teams competing simultaneously on two half-courts. CHP Santa Fe Springs went up against the LASD City of Industry team, while CHP Baldwin Park battled the Whittier Police Department. Santa Fe Springs and Whittier advanced to the finals, where a tense game ended in a 32–30 overtime win for CHP Santa Fe Springs. During halftime, Glen A. Wilson High School students delivered a lively cheerleading performance, accompanied by raffles and trivia games that lifted the energy even higher.

Following the youth games, an opening ceremony was held. Venerable Hui Dong, abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, praised the athletes and thanked the community for supporting the charity tournament, offering well-wishes for a joyful Thanksgiving. Ryan Serrano, deputy district director for Los Angeles County’s First District, noted the pride he felt seeing the community unite through service. CHP and LASD representatives Jennifer Hannum and Glenn Emery also expressed their appreciation for the temple’s ongoing partnership. Additional guests included Venerable Jue Huang, head of social education and outreach department; David Fang, president of the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association; and BLIA LA Chapter president Echo Tsai and vice president Avelyn Busch.

At the awards ceremony, the CHP Santa Fe Springs Explorers took third place in the youth division, the Hsi Lai TAG Hoopers took second, and the LASD City of Industry Explorers won the championship. In the adult division, LASD earned third place, Whittier Police Department took second, and CHP Santa Fe Springs claimed the title. Jeff Chew of CHP Santa Fe Springs was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second consecutive year.