Three out of four! Asian Cup basketball report: China men’s basketball team defeats South Korea 79-71, semifinal opponent to be determined.

On August 14, Beijing time, the Asian Cup quarterfinals continued with intense battles. A key game unfolded as the China men’s basketball team clashed with South Korea for a chance to reach the semifinals. After four quarters of competition, China leveraged a lead built in the second quarter to triumph 79-71 over South Korea, achieving a flawless record of four wins to advance to the semifinals. Hu Jinqiu and Wang Junjie both scored over 20 points, which is certainly praiseworthy!

The China men’s basketball team and South Korea are familiar rivals, having faced each other many times. Historically, China has dominated South Korea in the Asian Cup, boasting a 15-5 record. As the two teams met again today, our chances of winning remained high, though a significant victory seemed unlikely!

As the game commenced, both teams quickly engaged in a back-and-forth scoring battle, trading blows with China leading 25-24 by one point at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, China showcased a tough defense that stifled South Korea’s offense, ending the quarter with a score of 21-11 and leading by 11 points at halftime. In the second half, both teams exchanged points, maintaining a gap of around 10 points, with China leading by 9 points at the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter, China maintained its lead, preventing South Korea from closing the gap. Liao Sanning hit a crucial three-pointer to seal the game, and ultimately, China triumphed over South Korea, clinching a spot in the semifinals. This marks a return to the Asian Cup semifinals after 10 years, achieving the goal of participation!

From this match, the performance of the China men’s basketball team was commendable, keeping South Korea’s outside shooting in check, while Hu Jinqiu was a stabilizing force with a very steady performance. Rising star Wang Junjie continued to shine brightly, although the guards’ performance was less impressive, particularly Hu Mingxuan, who struggled significantly!

With China advancing, three of the four semifinal spots have been filled, including the Australia men’s basketball team, Iran men’s basketball team, and China men’s basketball team. One semifinal matchup is confirmed: Australia will face Iran in a tough contest, while China’s opponent is yet to be determined, likely to be New Zealand. Let’s wait and see!

Written by/Sports Novel