In an electrifying game on Sunday, the Sichuan Blue Whales stunned the Guangdong Southern Tigers with a 104-94 victory in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. This marks Sichuan’s first win over Guangdong in over seven years, since January 11, 2017.
American guard Edmond Sumner was the driving force behind the Blue Whales’ success, delivering a stellar performance with 32 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Sumner’s explosive third quarter was pivotal, as he scored half of his points during this period.
Trailing by six points at halftime with a score of 57-51, Sichuan unleashed a remarkable offensive in the third quarter, outscoring Guangdong 41-15. This breakout rally not only erased the deficit but propelled the Blue Whales to a commanding 20-point lead, standing at 92-72 by the end of the quarter.
“He is very self-disciplined and sets a very good example for our domestic players,” Sichuan’s head coach Han Shuo commented on Sumner’s impact. “His attitude in life, training, and towards the game is very worthy of learning for the young players.”
Sichuan’s defensive efforts were equally significant in their victory. While they couldn’t completely contain Xu Jie, who notched a season-high 32 points for Guangdong, they limited his field goal attempts to just two in the critical third quarter. Without Xu’s usual offensive contributions, the shorthanded Guangdong struggled to keep pace and saw the game slip away.
This impressive win not only breaks a long-standing losing streak against Guangdong but also delivers the Southern Tigers their second consecutive loss in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season.
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Sichuan upset Guangdong with breakout rally in third quarter
cgtn.com