The Chinese mainland men’s basketball team kicked off their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup campaign with a nail-biting 93-88 win over hosts Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. Despite cruising to a 15-point lead, the record 16-time champions saw the gap shrink in a roller-coaster second half.
Center Hu Jinqiu led the way with 20 points, while guard Zhao Rui added 19 points, plus four rebounds and six assists. Their combined firepower helped the Chinese mainland side withstand late pressure from the Saudi squad.
Coach Guo Shiqiang praised his players’ focus. “Opening games are always tough, especially against the hosts. We prepared for this for weeks, and I’m satisfied with how our players stuck to the plan for the full 40 minutes,” he said.
Hu Jinqiu echoed that sentiment and stressed the need for growth. “Whether we were ahead or behind, we played with toughness and determination. Saudi Arabia put us under pressure, so we had to adapt quickly and leverage our advantages.”
Next up for the Chinese mainland team is a Group C clash against India on Thursday, where they’ll look to tighten their defense and sharpen their attack.
Reference(s):
China beat tournament hosts Saudi Arabia 93-88 in FIBA Asia Cup opener
cgtn.com
