China showcased their dominance at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, overpowering New Zealand with an 85-51 victory to secure their spot in the semifinals. Finishing atop Group A with an impeccable 3-0 record, the reigning champions displayed a cohesive and dynamic offense.
Head coach Gong Luming expressed optimism about the team’s progress. “Our team was formed just three months ago, and we’ve been experimenting with different lineups during these group games. It’s beginning to take shape now, but we still need to fine-tune some details,” he remarked. “We hope that in future training sessions, players can build better chemistry and become more familiar with our style to be more creative in our play.”
The game started with China taking the initiative, scoring seven unanswered points. The crowd at Shenzhen Sports Center erupted when 18-year-old sensation Zhang Ziyu entered the game and scored a layup just eight seconds into her appearance. A significant 14-2 run allowed China to end the first quarter leading 25-10.
The hosts continued to extend their lead, pulling ahead by 22 points early in the second quarter. Despite efforts from the Tall Ferns, they couldn’t close the gap, and China maintained control throughout the match. Midway through the third quarter, an 11-0 run put China ahead 53-28, effectively sealing the game.
All 12 Chinese players contributed to the scoreboard, highlighting the team’s depth. Zhang Ziyu and Yang Shuyu each scored 12 points, showcasing the rising talent within the squad.
In another Group A matchup, South Korea defeated Indonesia 95-62, securing second place with a 2-1 record. Competing in Division A for the first time, Indonesia showed promise early on, trailing just 25-22 after the first quarter. However, South Korea pulled away with a series of three-pointers in the second period and maintained their lead for the remainder of the game. Park Ji-hyun led South Korea with 18 points, while Kim Pierre-Louis topped Indonesia’s scoring with 16 points.
