China’s U19 basketball team recently wrapped up its FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup campaign, finishing 13th out of 16 teams with a 2-5 record.
Despite the underwhelming results, head coach Qu Shaobin viewed the tournament as a valuable experience for the country’s young basketball prospects.
The team’s performance was hindered by the absence of key players, including Li Yuezhou and Duan Ruiqi, who missed the event due to injuries.
Although the squad failed to meet its initial target of a top-12 finish, Coach Qu considered the competition an important step in the broader development of Chinese youth basketball.
According to Coach Qu, the tournament provided a clear look at the intensity and physicality required at the U19 level. He emphasized that the level of competition marked a significant increase compared to U17 events.
Playing against top teams like Germany, Slovenia, New Zealand, and Canada helped the team understand its current standing in global youth basketball.
One of the most pressing issues highlighted was rebounding, where China ranked second to last among all teams. The coaching staff had already recognized this problem during the previous U18 Asian Cup and had tried to address it in training camps.
However, Qu admitted that the measures taken were not enough. He believed the problem stemmed from a lack of early emphasis on basic basketball habits, such as rebounding, defense, and passing—skills often overshadowed by a focus on scoring in local youth systems.
Despite the shortcomings, Coach Qu acknowledged progress in the team’s tactical execution, particularly on defense. The players adapted to various defensive strategies based on different opponents, showing growing maturity.
A key moment came in their round-of-16 match against New Zealand. After trailing heavily at halftime, China staged a dramatic comeback, reducing the deficit to a single point before losing 99-86.
Qu considered it the most painful loss of the tournament but noted that the resilience shown indicated that the talent gap was gradually closing.
On an individual level, several players impressed. Chen Jiazheng stood out as one of the best shooters in the tournament, while Huan Sinan led all players with an average of five blocks per game.
Looking ahead, Coach Qu believed that with continued focus and development, some members of this U19 squad could soon contribute to the senior national team, signaling a hopeful future for Chinese basketball.