China staged a remarkable comeback in the 2023 Basketball Supercup, clinching the third spot with a nail-biting 69-68 victory over New Zealand in an intense face-off held in Hamburg on August 13.
The spotlight of the game fell on Li Kaier, etching his name in Chinese basketball history as the nation’s inaugural naturalized player.
In a heart-stopping climax, Li’s pivotal moment arrived with just 10 seconds left on the clock, executing a game-changing interception that thwarted New Zealand’s inbound pass.
This crucial play allowed China to expertly wind down the time and secure the hard-fought win. Li’s exceptional leadership shone through as he delivered a game-high 18 points, laying the groundwork for this sensational turnaround.
China had to overcome a tough start, with New Zealand taking a robust lead of 22-16 in a closely contested first quarter.
However, China responded vigorously in the second, engineering a 10-0 scoring spree that propelled them to a narrow 28-27 advantage.
Despite New Zealand’s strong counterplay, ending the second quarter with a 39-31 lead, China’s tenacity and resilience, guided by the astute Aleksandar Djordjevic, took center stage.
China’s tightened defensive strategy gradually chipped away at the deficit, bringing the margin to just four points by the end of the third quarter, with New Zealand leading at 54-50.
The penultimate minute of the game was a spectacle of intense drama, as Zhang Zhenlin’s lay-up leveled the score at 68-68. However, New Zealand’s hopes were dashed in an instant when Li’s crucial interception sealed China’s heart-stopping victory.
Li expressed his sentiments, reflecting the collective pride of the team, “I am genuinely proud of the relentless spirit exhibited by each teammate, bouncing back after a challenging loss yesterday. We rebounded with unwavering determination, competing as a united force. Our unwavering resilience, effective communication, strategic organization, and exceptional physical prowess played pivotal roles in today’s triumphant performance.”
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