The Shanxi Loongs delivered a jaw-dropping performance Saturday, sweeping the 11-time champion Guangdong Southern Tigers 3-0 in the CBA quarterfinals with a decisive 124-106 victory in Guangdong Province. 🚀 Their win marks the first time in three years the Tigers have been eliminated this early – and it ties their worst postseason record ever. Talk about rewriting history! 📉
Shanxi’s Hamidou Diallo dropped 25 points and 12 rebounds like it was nothing, while teammate Trey Kell III’s 18-point bench showing had fans chanting MVP. 🏆 Guangdong’s Troy Gillenwater fought valiantly with a game-high 36 points, but with only one starter crossing 10 points? Oof. 😬
The game flipped fast: After Guangdong’s early 5-0 lead, Shanxi unleashed a three-point frenzy (thanks, Jia Mingru and Zhang Ning!) to snatch control. Guangdong briefly rallied in Q2, but Shanxi’s lockdown defense in Q3 sealed the deal. 🤯 By the fourth quarter, Xing Zhiqiang’s clutch threes had fans dancing in the aisles. 💃
Next up: Shanxi faces either Beijing Ducks or Beikong Royal Fighters in the semifinals. Can they sustain this momentum? 🌪️
