The Xinjiang Flying Tigers soared to their first victory in Group D of the inaugural CBA Club Cup, overcoming the Beijing Ducks 85-79 in a thrilling match in Qingdao on Friday. The return of key players Zhao Rui and Qi Lin from injury played a crucial role in Xinjiang’s comeback.
The tournament resumed after a day of rest, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter between Group D leaders Beijing, who had secured two consecutive wins, and last season’s Finals runners-up Xinjiang. The Flying Tigers had suffered an unexpected loss to Nanjing in their opener due to the absence of Zhao Rui and Qi Lin but were eager to turn the tide with their return.
“This was my first game in the CBA Club Cup, and I prepared very well,” said Xinjiang guard Zhao Rui. “I know my physical condition is getting better and better, so I want to display my ability in a different way to help our team.”
“Zhao Rui is an essential part of our team because he can help us with outside shooting and organizing,” noted Beijing forward Qi Lin. “I’m happy he came back from injury here.”
Initially trailing in the first quarter, the Flying Tigers looked to Zhao Rui to shift the momentum. Coming off the bench, he made an immediate impact with a steal, set up QJ Peterson to tie the score, and assisted Dedric Lawson to propel the team’s comeback. Xinjiang outscored Beijing 19-11 in the second quarter, taking a five-point lead into halftime.
“Winning or losing is not the most important thing here because we know Beijing did not have several key players,” said Xinjiang coach Liu Wei. “We focused more on our performance, and overall, I think both teams played very well. I hope everybody enjoyed the game.”
Despite a standout performance from Ducks forward Zhang Cairen, a Xinjiang native who scored a game-high 24 points, it was Qi Lin, born in Beijing, who contributed 11 points in the fourth quarter for the Flying Tigers. His efforts sealed the victory and handed Beijing their first defeat in the Club Cup.
“I think my shooting form mostly depends on my mentality,” said Beijing forward Qi Lin. “We practice shooting thousands of times in training. Mindset is the most important thing, and after making some adjustments, I regained my form.”
Beijing forward Zhang Cairen reflected on the game: “We were missing Eugene German and two key domestic players in this game, while Xinjiang played with nearly a full squad. So everybody who could play wanted to contribute a bit more for the team, both on offense and defense, and we played without pressure.”
In Friday’s other game, Qingdao defeated Liaoning 94-78 to secure their second win. Beijing continues to lead the standings with two wins and one loss, while Xinjiang and Nanjing both have one win and one loss. Saturday’s action will see Liaoning face Nanjing and Xinjiang meet Qingdao, with the top two teams from the group advancing to the next stage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
