The inaugural CBA Club Cup witnessed a thrilling conclusion to its first phase on Sunday in Qingdao, as the Beijing Ducks and the Xinjiang Flying Tigers secured their spots in the quarterfinals. Both teams emerged victorious in Group D, widely regarded as the tournament’s “group of death,” each finishing with three wins and one loss.
In a decisive matchup, the Beijing Ducks clinched their place in the knockout stage by defeating the Nanjing Monkey Kings 91-75. Star guard Eugene German made a remarkable return from an ankle sprain suffered earlier in the week against the Liaoning Flying Leopards. German delivered a game-high 27 points and credited his six-month-old son as the inspiration behind his outstanding performance.
“We treated this game as a decisive battle,” said Beijing coach Xu Limin. “We won the game, and our players also made breakthroughs in their mentality, so overall, I’m very satisfied with our performance here.”
Anunwa Omot provided strong support for the Ducks, contributing 20 points to solidify the team’s victory. The win ensured Beijing advanced to the quarterfinals, while Nanjing concluded their journey with one win and three losses.
Meanwhile, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers secured the other qualifying spot from Group D by defeating the Liaoning Flying Leopards. Despite both Xinjiang and Beijing sharing identical records, the Flying Tigers topped the group due to their head-to-head victory over the Ducks.
“I think the Club Cup has great significance for our team,” remarked Xinjiang coach Liu Wei. “Our young players got more opportunities to play, while our foreign players now fit in better with the team, so I’m very satisfied.”
The completion of the first stage sets the stage for an exciting knockout phase scheduled during the league break in February. The eight teams progressing from the four groups will compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine the champion. Fans can anticipate more high-intensity matchups as teams vie for the inaugural CBA Club Cup title.
As the teams prepare for the next challenge, the CBA regular season will resume on November 27, promising more basketball action for enthusiasts across the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
