The Guangsha Lions secured a hard-fought 101-96 victory over the Qingdao Eagles in Game 5 of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) quarterfinals on Wednesday, advancing to their semifinal clash against the defending champion Liaoning Flying Leopards.
Despite an off-night for star scorer Barry Brown Jr., who shot 4-of-15 from the field, Guangsha leveraged teamwork to survive the tense matchup in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Brown compensated with nine assists, while regular-season MVP Sun Minghui led with 10 assists, adding 19 points and 10 rebounds to his double-double tally.
Qingdao's 2.18-meter center Yang Hansen, coming off the bench, delivered 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Quinndary Weatherspoon's game-high 24 points kept the Eagles competitive until the final minutes. A late rally cut Guangsha's lead to 92-88, but Qingdao's defensive lapses in securing rebounds proved costly.
Guangsha now faces Liaoning in a highly anticipated semifinal series starting Saturday, seeking to overturn their 0-6 playoff record against the reigning champions. The matchup highlights China's growing prominence in competitive sports and will draw keen attention from business sponsors and fans across Asia.
