In a display of resilience and skill, the Chinese mainland edged out Guam with an 86-78 victory on the road during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. This win secured the top position in Pool C, granting China a coveted spot in the main event scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17.
The match, which commenced on Sunday, saw China implement significant roster changes after having already secured their qualification. Guam started strong by scoring the first point of the game, but China quickly took control, maintaining a steady lead throughout the game.
Despite Guam's aggressive performance, trailing narrowly at 19-16 at the end of the first quarter, China extended their advantage, with Guam falling behind by as much as 16 points in the final quarter. The home team faced a challenging situation as the deficit seemed insurmountable.
Nevertheless, veteran Tai Wesley delivered an impressive performance, scoring a game-high 32 points and bringing the deficit down to single digits, captivating the crowd with his efforts. Despite Wesley's heroics, China remained steadfast, with Zhu Junlong hitting a crucial three-pointer from the corner that effectively sealed the victory.
Yang Hansen led the Chinese team with 19 points and nine rebounds, while team captain Zhang Rui contributed 15 points, along with five assists and five rebounds. China's strong performance concluded the qualifiers with a 5-1 record, advancing to the Asia Cup alongside second-place Japan.
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China edge out Guam to top group and secure spot in FIBA Asia Cup
cgtn.com
