China’s national basketball team delivered a commanding performance, defeating Venezuela 77-49 in a warm-up game on Thursday in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province. This victory marks China’s first win over Venezuela since 2007, breaking a five-game losing streak against the South American team.
The game started with both teams struggling to find their rhythm in the first quarter. However, China managed to take an 18-13 lead after Cheng Shuaipeng nailed a three-pointer just before the buzzer.
In the second quarter, China’s offense came alive. Key players Zhao Rui, Hu Jinqiu, and Yu Jiahao stepped up, with Hu and Yu dominating in the paint for a combined eight points. Zhao added two three-pointers, helping China outscore Venezuela 19-9 in the period and extend their lead to 37-22 by halftime.
The momentum continued into the third quarter as China’s shooters heated up from beyond the arc. Zhao Rui, Zhao Jiayi, Hu Mingxuan, and Cheng all connected from downtown. A 14-0 run, followed by an 8-0 spurt, saw China build a substantial 63-40 advantage by the end of the quarter. By this point, four Chinese players—Hu Jinqiu, Zhao Rui, Yu Jiahao, and Cheng Shuaipeng—had reached double figures in scoring.
With the outcome all but decided, both teams turned to their benches five minutes into the final quarter. China’s defense held firm, securing a resounding victory to boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup.
The two teams are set to face each other again on Friday night. After that, China will play two additional warm-up games against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday and Tuesday in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province.
The FIBA Asia Cup kicks off on August 5 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. China is placed in Group C alongside Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia. With this strong performance against Venezuela, the Chinese team is aiming to make a significant impact in the tournament.
