The Beijing Ducks soared to an impressive 118-96 victory over the Zhejiang Golden Bulls on Friday night, wrapping up a grueling week in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) with a commendable 2-1 record.
Facing a lineup of formidable opponents, the Ducks began their challenging stretch with a 108-97 loss to the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. Determined to bounce back, they returned home on New Year’s Day to defeat the three-time defending champions Liaoning Flying Leopards 105-90, boosting their morale.
The final test came against Zhejiang, a team that had edged out Beijing twice in the previous season. Despite uncertainties due to injuries—newly-signed center Zhou Qi had just returned from his second injury spell, and key point guard Chen Ying-chun was sidelined with an ankle sprain—the Ducks were ready for the showdown.
The game started with both teams matching each other point for point. Eugene German shone brightly, attacking the basket relentlessly and scoring 14 points in the first quarter. By the end of the period, Beijing led 32-24.
Leveraging their advantage in the paint and sharp perimeter shooting, the Ducks kept the Golden Bulls at bay. Each time Zhejiang attempted a comeback, Beijing swiftly responded, extending their lead to 65-50 by halftime.
Coach Xu Liming’s strategy of frequent substitutions kept the pressure on Zhejiang throughout the third quarter, maintaining offensive efficiency and pushing the lead to 91-74.
In the final quarter, consecutive three-pointers from Zhang Cairen and Sun Yahui sealed the game. With a comfortable lead, bench players and young prospects took to the court, capitalizing on their opportunity to shine. The Ducks set a season-high for points in a single game, concluding the week on a high note.
“We showed great resilience this week,” Coach Xu said after the game. “Despite the challenges, our team stayed focused and delivered when it mattered most.”
Reference(s):
Beijing ends tough CBA stretch with 2-1 record with win over Zhejiang
cgtn.com
