In their last tune-up before the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, China's women's basketball team put on a clinical performance, defeating Japan 93-61 in Haikou. The win extends China's pre-tournament streak to four games.
A tight first quarter saw China edge Japan 26-23, but the hosts opened the second quarter on fire. A dominant 25-8 run propelled them to a 51-31 halftime lead, setting the tone for the rest of the night.
In the third quarter, veterans Zhang Ru, Han Xu, and Yang Shuyu combined for an electrifying scoring spree that ballooned the gap to 30 points. Japan's late 8-0 run in the fourth could not dent China's control.
Guard Wang Siyu led all scorers with 17 points, while center Zhang Ziyu chipped in 16 points and four rebounds. Rising star Zhai Ruoyun also made her mark with 11 points, showcasing the depth of the squad.
“We want to take this chance to train the team and adapt to the fast transition pace, so that we can go all out for the Asia Cup,” said China head coach Gong Luming. He emphasized that blending different ages and playing styles takes time, but the group's chemistry is building.
Up next, China will face Australia in Haikou on July 6 before a rematch in Changsha on July 8. With momentum on their side and valuable lessons learned, the team is poised to make a statement when the FIBA Women's Asia Cup tips off later this month.
Reference(s):
China dominate Japan 93-61 in final FIBA Women's Asia Cup warm-up
cgtn.com
