China head coach praises team’s togetherness after reaching Fiba Asia Cup final
Victory over New Zealand on Saturday means a meeting with two-time defending champions Australia in Saudi Arabia showpiece
China head coach Guo Shiqiang praised his team for “sticking together” after reaching the Fiba Asia Cup final for the first time in over a decade on Saturday.
But an impressive 98-84 victory over New Zealand meant the tournament’s most decorated team with 16 titles will face two-time defending champions Australia in Jeddah on Sunday.
“We showed our fighting spirit and played unselfishly on the court,” Guo said. “We are a young team with nine players playing in a major tournament for the first time, but there’s an old saying in China: ‘Youth breeds legends’.
“I don’t want our players to think we are just young, but that we are full of energy. We should welcome all the challenges and try to win.”
In a contest where China had enjoyed a lead for much of the match, five Chinese players scored in double figures, led by team captain Zhao Rui, who finished with a game-high 24 points.