China’s men’s national basketball team faced another tough loss this week, falling 70-65 to Spanish Liga ACB club Joventut Badalona in a nail-biting exhibition game in Quzhou. The defeat marks their eighth consecutive loss, leaving fans and analysts buzzing about what’s next for the squad.
Game Highlights: A Rollercoaster of Momentum
🔥 First Quarter Fire: China started strong, with Wang Lanqin slicing through defenders for a layup to secure a 17-10 lead. But the Spanish side quickly regrouped, turning up the heat in the second quarter.
🏀 Third-Quarter Drama: Liao Sanning stole the spotlight (and the ball!) with a crowd-energizing dunk, racking up a game-high 16 points. Yet, critical turnovers and missed free throws haunted the team down the stretch.
⏰ Crunch-Time Collapse: Dutch star Yannick Kraag sealed the deal for Joventut Badalona, stealing and dunking to extend their lead to 67-59 in the final minutes. Despite a late surge, China couldn’t close the gap.
Coach Guo’s Takeaways: ‘Three Key Mistakes’
Head coach Guo Shiqiang didn’t mince words post-game: ‘Our focus faltered when it mattered most—four turnovers in the final minutes cost us the game. We’ll regroup before Friday’s rematch in Xi’an.’
📉 With a 60% free-throw rate and defensive lapses, the team has clear areas to improve. Can they bounce back? All eyes are on Friday’s showdown! 🌟
