The Chinese national basketball team began their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup journey with a closely contested 93-88 win against the host nation, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. The tournament, taking place from August 5th to 17th, signifies the return of Asia's premier basketball championship to Saudi Arabia, marking the first time since 1997 that the country has hosted.
The Chinese team's starting lineup consisted of Zhao Rui, Hu Mingxuan, Zhu Junlong, Zhao Jiayi, and Hu Jinqiu. Saudi Arabia initially gained an advantage through a series of successful three-point shots, prompting Chinese team captain Zhao Rui to respond and counter the hosts' offensive efforts. The Chinese team then shifted the momentum with a balanced offensive strategy, establishing a 53-43 lead by halftime.
In the second half, the Chinese team experienced a decline in their shooting accuracy, which allowed Saudi Arabia to reduce the point difference, eventually narrowing it to just two points. During critical moments, Zhao and center Hu Jinqiu secured the victory by successfully converting crucial free throws, overcoming earlier foul trouble. The Chinese team successfully defended against Saudi Arabia's final attempts in the last two minutes, solidifying their win.
All twelve players on the Chinese team's roster participated in the game, with five players achieving double-digit scores. Hu led the team with 20 points and five rebounds, while Zhao contributed 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Center Yu Jiahao also made a significant contribution with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Guo Shiqiang, the head coach of the Chinese team, commended his team's mental fortitude and execution under pressure. He acknowledged the difficulty of the game for both teams, particularly for the Chinese team as it was their first match and against the host country.
The Chinese team now shares the early lead in Group C with Jordan, who had previously defeated India 91-84 in overtime. The Chinese team's upcoming challenge is against India on August 7th, followed by a crucial match against Jordan on the third day, which could determine the group's top position and impact the Chinese team's goal of reaching the Asia Cup semifinals for the first time in a decade. Despite having won the Asia Cup 16 times, the Chinese team's last victory was in 2015, when Changsha, Hunan Province, hosted the event.
7 Comments
BuggaBoom
That win was too close for comfort! How can a team with such a history struggle so much against Saudi Arabia?
Loubianka
Proud of the Chinese team! Overcoming challenges like foul trouble shows their determination.
Noir Black
This isn't the level of play we expect from a team with so many championships. Disappointing!
Donatello
The Chinese team made too many mistakes. They can't rely on luck to win against Jordan or India.
Raphael
That comeback in the second half was impressive! This team has potential!
Michelangelo
Let’s not celebrate a win that almost slipped away from them. They need to find consistency.
BuggaBoom
Let’s not forget they've won the Asia Cup 16 times! Still a force to be reckoned with!