In an electrifying start to the CBA Club Cup, the Beijing Ducks edged out the Qingdao Eagles with a nail-biting 81-76 victory on Tuesday in Qingdao, Shandong Province.
Despite missing key players like Zeng Fanbo, Beijing’s head coach Xu Limin utilized a deep roster, rotating 11 players, nine of whom contributed to the scoreboard.
The Ducks’ foreign trio—Eugene German, Richard Solomon, and Anunwa Omot—played pivotal roles. German’s swift drives, Omot’s precision from beyond the arc, and Solomon’s dominance in the paint propelled Beijing to a 24-22 lead after the first quarter.
Qingdao’s Jordan Mickey responded fiercely, showcasing his offensive prowess in the second quarter with a series of tough shots. By halftime, the Eagles had narrowed the gap to just one point, trailing 43-42.
The third quarter saw Qingdao’s Lyu Junhu catch fire, sinking three consecutive three-pointers. Beijing struggled offensively, allowing the Eagles to soar to a 12-point lead, peaking at 66-54.
Refusing to back down, Beijing’s Zhai Xiaochuan and Eugene German spearheaded a comeback. The Ducks initiated the fourth quarter with a 10-4 run, ultimately outscoring Qingdao by 15 points.
Despite Mickey’s game-high 28 points for Qingdao, the Eagles faltered in the final stretch, managing only eight points in the decisive quarter as their shots fell short.
With this hard-fought victory, the Beijing Ducks set a strong tone for the tournament, demonstrating depth and resilience even without some of their star players.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
