The Beijing Ducks have punched their ticket to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Finals for the first time in 10 years after decisively defeating the Shanxi Loongs 121-103 at home on Friday. This win wrapped up their best-of-five semifinal series with a clean 3-0 sweep.
The game was tightly contested in the first half. With the score knotted at 15-15 in the opening quarter, Shanxi’s Brandon Goodwin sank a layup to give the Loongs a slight edge. However, the Ducks quickly responded as Eugene German nailed a three-pointer, trimming the deficit. Shanxi’s Zhang Ning answered back with a triple, stretching their lead to six points.
In the second quarter, German’s sharpshooting helped Beijing edge ahead by one. The Ducks continued to build momentum, with German connecting with Anunwa Omot for a powerful dunk. The duo struck again as German set up Omot for a three-pointer, extending Beijing’s lead.
Veteran center Zhou Qi made his presence felt, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. A key moment came when Chen Ying-Chun assisted Zhou for a dunk, pushing the Ducks’ advantage to five. Chen later hit a crucial three-pointer, and German’s layup expanded the lead to 15 points.
Despite Shanxi’s efforts, including a spirited performance from Zhang Ning, the Ducks maintained control. A timeout couldn’t halt Beijing’s surge, and German’s buzzer-beating layup at the end of the third quarter gave the Ducks a commanding 23-point lead heading into the final period.
Eugene German was the star of the night, dropping a game-high 43 points. His outstanding performance sealed the 18-point victory for Beijing, marking their return to the CBA Finals after a decade-long absence from title contention.
Awaiting them in the championship series are the Guangsha Lions. The best-of-seven Finals are set to tip off on May 7, promising an exciting showdown for CBA fans.
