In a heart-stopping Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) season opener, the Guangdong Southern Tigers claimed a 107-102 overtime victory against the Nanjing Monkey Kings on Sunday, overcoming a career-best 42-point performance by Nanjing's rising star Guo Haowen.
The game showcased Guangdong's championship pedigree as they executed a textbook defensive strategy early on. Wang Shaojie's crucial block led to a fastbreak layup by Hu Mingxuan, establishing momentum for the 11-time champions. However, the Southern Tigers faced adversity when guard Xu Jie exited before halftime with a fractured brow bone after contesting a three-point attempt.
Nanjing mounted a fierce comeback in the second half, fueled by Guo's six three-pointers and clever assists. The 24-year-old forward temporarily put his team ahead 80-79 in the fourth quarter with a precision pass to Brady Manek, sending the visiting fans into raptures.
Regulation time ended dramatically at 94-94 after Guo's potential game-winning floater rimmed out. Overtime belonged to Guangdong's Edmond Sumner, who scored 26 points including decisive drives to the basket, while Zhang Wenyi's clutch corner three-pointer sealed the victory.
The Southern Tigers will face the Zhejiang Golden Bulls on Tuesday, while Nanjing looks to regroup ahead of their next matchup. This thrilling contest sets the stage for an electrifying 2025-26 CBA season, showcasing Asia's growing prominence in global basketball.
