In an exciting matchup at the CBA Club Cup in Qingdao, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers rallied to defeat the Beijing Ducks 85-79, marking their first win in Group D. Key players Zhao Rui and Qi Lin returned from injuries to make a significant impact on the game.
The Flying Tigers, who were stunned by Nanjing in their opener without Zhao and Qi, bounced back impressively against Beijing. Zhao Rui came off the bench in the first quarter, injecting energy into the team by making a steal and setting up QJ Peterson to tie the score. He continued to influence the game by assisting Dedric Lawson, helping Xinjiang outscore Beijing 19-11 in the second quarter and leading by five points at halftime.
“This was my first game in the CBA Club Cup, and I prepared very well,” said Zhao Rui. “I know my physical condition is getting better, so I wanted to help our team in any way I could.”
Qi Lin, who contributed 11 points in the fourth quarter, emphasized the team’s focus. “Winning or losing is not the most important thing here,” he said. “We focused on our performance, and overall, I think both teams played very well.”
Despite a strong performance from Beijing’s Zhang Cairen, who scored a game-high 24 points, the Ducks suffered their first defeat in the tournament. Xinjiang’s victory puts both teams with records of two wins and one loss, keeping the competition tight in Group D.
Saturday’s games will see Liaoning face Nanjing and Xinjiang meet Qingdao, with the top two teams from the group advancing to the next stage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
