China's journey at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup hit a curveball as the national side fell 99-86 to New Zealand in the round of 16, ending hopes of a top-eight finish.
After finishing fourth in Group B with three straight losses, China faced Group A winners New Zealand. The Chinese team jumped out to a 6-0 lead, capitalizing on quick defensive breaks. But New Zealand ramped up their defense, limiting China to just two points over the next seven minutes and holding the side to only two first-quarter assists. Guard Zhang Luyuan scored the team's lone two-pointer in that period, as China trailed 24-13 heading to the second quarter.
New Zealand continued to pull away, stretching the lead to 20 points in the second quarter with sharp ball movement and efficient shooting. China fought back in the third and fourth periods, creating several chances to cut the deficit, but ultimately fell short by 13 points.
With this result, China will regroup for the 9th-to-16th place classification games, aiming to snap their losing streak and end the tournament on a positive note. Fans can look forward to the young squad's next match as they gain valuable experience on the world stage.
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China suffer 99-86 defeat against New Zealand at FIBA U19 World Cup
cgtn.com
