In an electrifying showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, Sichuan Yuanda Meile clinched the inaugural FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia title! 🎉 Facing off against Japan's Fujitsu Red Wave, Sichuan pulled off a thrilling 73-69 victory right in their hometown of Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Saturday.
After impressive wins against Surabaya Fever and Cathay Life, the stage was set for an epic final against the reigning Japan Basketball League champions. Gao Song, channeling some serious clutch vibes, got the ball rolling (literally!) with a sweet three-pointer. 🎯
The dynamic duo of Li Meng and Han Xu, stars of the Chinese national team, showed off their next-level synergy. Li dished a slick assist to Han, putting Sichuan ahead by a single point—talk about teamwork making the dream work! 🙌
Gao wasn't done yet. She nailed another triple, stretching the lead into double digits and keeping the momentum soaring. The 32-year-old forward was unstoppable post-halftime, dropping three more buckets to rack up 18 points. 🔥
But wait, there's more! Han Xu, proving that centers can shoot too, drained a three-pointer in the third quarter, pushing the lead to a whopping 20 points. The crowd went wild! 🏀💥
Not to be outdone, Fujitsu Red Wave fought back fiercely. Uchio Akina stole the ball and sped down the court for a layup, igniting hopes of a comeback. 🚀
Sichuan kept their cool, though. Han Xu was a defensive powerhouse, protecting the rim like it was the entrance to Wakanda. She finished with a game-high 24 points, six rebounds, and two blocks—total beast mode! 🦁
Even when Gao was blocked late in the fourth quarter, she bounced back with a slick reverse layup. That's resilience right there! 💪
As the final buzzer sounded, Sichuan emerged victorious by four points, making history as the first-ever champions of the FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia. And to top it off, Han Xu snagged the MVP honors. Legends! 🏆
Reference(s):
Sichuan capture inaugural FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia title
cgtn.com
