The Guangsha Lions secured a thrilling 101-96 victory over the Qingdao Eagles in Game 5 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) postseason quarterfinals on Wednesday night in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province.
As the regular season leaders, the Lions now advance to face the defending champions, the Liaoning Flying Leopards, in the semifinals. This marks a significant moment for Guangsha, who had previously lost all six of their playoff meetings against Liaoning.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions for fans. Guangsha’s star scorer, Barry Brown Jr., struggled with his shooting, missing 11 of 15 field goals and all six attempts within the three-point line. Despite this, Brown Jr. made crucial contributions with nine assists, the second-highest on the team after Sun Minghui’s ten. Regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sun Minghui delivered a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, bolstering the team’s performance.
On the Qingdao side, 2.18-meter giant Yang Hansen came off the bench to contribute an impressive 16 points, 11 rebounds, and one block over 36 minutes. Quinndary Weatherspoon was the Eagles’ top performer on offense, racking up 24 points and eight assists, keeping the game tight until the closing minutes.
The Lions trailed 29-28 after the first quarter but rallied to outscore the Eagles 25-19 in the second, leading 53-48 at halftime. Their consistent play extended their advantage to as much as 13 points, with Joshua Carlton hitting a transition jumper to make it 77-64. The Eagles fought back, reducing the deficit to single digits at 79-70 by the end of the third quarter.
In a nail-biting fourth quarter, Weatherspoon and Yang led Qingdao’s rally, cutting Guangsha’s lead to just four points at 92-88 after a layup from Weatherspoon following an offensive rebound by Yang. However, the Eagles’ inability to secure defensive rebounds proved costly, allowing the Lions to maintain their edge and clinch the victory.
Game 1 of the semifinals between the Guangsha Lions and the Liaoning Flying Leopards is set for Saturday in Hangzhou. The other semifinal matchup pits the Shanxi Loongs against the Beijing Ducks, beginning with Game 1 in Taiyuan, north China’s Shanxi Province, on Sunday.
