Latest update on the U16 Men's Basketball Asia Cup: China defeats South Korea 97-81 for a third consecutive win, advancing to the quarterfinals, with Zhang Ziyi scoring 21 points and grabbing 20 rebounds.

On September 3rd, Beijing time, the third round of the U16 Men's Basketball Asia Cup group stage continued with China facing their longtime rival South Korea. After an intense battle, China surged in the later stages, showing balanced scoring to beat South Korea 97-81. This dominant victory marked their third straight win, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Zhang Ziyi had a breakout performance, dominating both offense and defense with a perfect stat line of 21 points and 20 rebounds, single-handedly overwhelming the Korean team!

China’s team was drawn in a group with Mongolia, Malaysia, and South Korea. This grouping was quite favorable; besides South Korea who had some strength, the other two teams were relatively weak. Therefore, the goal was to achieve good results, with the immediate aim of securing first place in the group. Against Mongolia and Malaysia, China struck hard, forcing their opponents into retreat and winning by 58 and 56 points respectively — truly a ruthless display. The third opponent, South Korea, had some ability but was not a real threat yet. Still, China needed to approach the game seriously and aim to crush this rival!

At the start of the match, China’s performance in the first half was somewhat poor. Their offense failed to show its strength, and combined with South Korea’s intense defense and high shooting accuracy, China was held back and trailed by one point at halftime. However, after switching sides, the situation changed dramatically. China tightened their defense, limiting South Korea’s attacks and dominating the quarter with a 27-12 run, stunning their opponents. In the final quarter, China maintained steady control, resisting South Korea’s comeback attempts and keeping a double-digit lead throughout, ultimately crushing South Korea and powering to a commanding third straight win!

Following China’s decisive victory over South Korea, their group stage campaign has been unstoppable with three straight wins and an undefeated record, clinching the top spot in the group and advancing to the quarterfinals. They now await their knockout round opponent. The challenges ahead remain tough, with strong teams like Australia and New Zealand still to face. We hope the young players continue their hard work and strive for excellent results. Let’s watch eagerly!

By / Sports Novel