In a statement win at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup opener, China roared past Indonesia 110-59 on Sunday. It was a night where all 12 players on the roster found the scoring sheet, showcasing depth and teamwork right from the tip-off.
Despite a few early jitters from China’s revamped starting five, the defending champions quickly found their groove. Sharp ball movement created high-percentage looks for towering center Han Xu, whose court vision and size translated into easy buckets. Indonesia, after Kim Pierre-Louis knocked down the first jumper, endured a long scoring drought until Faizzatus Shoimah ended the dry spell with a long-range three.
The real game-changer arrived midway through the first quarter when 18-year-old phenom Zhang Ziyu made her debut. Standing at 226cm, she immediately impacted both ends of the court, helping China surge to a 49-20 halftime lead.
After the break, China kept the pedal down. Coach Gong Luming — using the opener as a live laboratory to test rotations — dialed up plays for Zhang, who proved near-unstoppable in the paint. Guard Yang Shuyu also electrified the third quarter, attacking the rim with confidence and keeping the offense humming. By the final period, China’s lead had ballooned to 47 points.
Seven players finished in double figures. Yang Liwei, Luo Xinyu and Zhang Ziyu each poured in 13 points, while Han Xu chipped in 12 points and six rebounds in under 18 minutes. Indonesia’s Kim Pierre-Louis ended as the top scorer for her side with 16 points.
China’s commanding performance in Shenzhen capped off a busy summer build-up. A 28-player training camp in April paved the way for six warm-up games against top Asian squads, including Australia and Japan, where the team went 5-1. With star guard Li Meng sidelined by injury and Li Yueru still in the WNBA, Zhang’s emergence offers a timely spark for the Chinese mainland’s title defense.
Gong assessed the opener as a solid test rather than a full barometer. “We focused on ourselves and tried different lineups,” he said. “This is about building chemistry for the tougher matchups ahead.”
With momentum on their side and a bench brimming with talent, China looks well-positioned to defend its crown on home soil in the tournament ahead.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
