\ud83c\udfc0 The inaugural CBA Club Cup is heating up in Qingdao! After a day's rest, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers clawed their way to an 85-79 victory over the Beijing Ducks, thanks to the return of star players Zhao Rui and Qi Lin. \ud83d\udd25
With Beijing leading Group D after two straight wins, the pressure was on for Xinjiang, especially after their surprising loss to Nanjing in the opener. But with Zhao and Qi back from injuries, the Flying Tigers were ready to take flight. \u2708\ufe0f
\"This was my first game in the CBA Club Cup, and I was pumped! \ud83d\udcaa My form is improving, and I wanted to show what I can do to help the team,\" said Xinjiang guard Zhao Rui.
Coach Liu Wei praised Zhao's impact: \"Zhao Rui is vital for us. He brings outside shooting and organization. It's great to have him back from injury.\" \ud83d\udc4f
After trailing in the first quarter, Zhao came off the bench to flip the script. He made a key steal, set up QJ Peterson to tie the game, and dished to Dedric Lawson to fuel the comeback. The Flying Tigers outscored the Ducks 19-11 in the second quarter, taking a five-point lead into halftime. \ud83d\udc4d
Despite a game-high 24 points from Beijing's Zhang Cairen, a Xinjiang native, it was Qi Lin, born in Beijing, who dropped 11 points in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Flying Tigers. The victory handed Beijing their first loss in the Club Cup. \ud83d\udd38
\"Winning or losing isn't everything here. We know Beijing was missing key players. We focused on our performance, and I think both teams played great. Hope everyone enjoyed the game!\" said Coach Liu. \ud83e\udd1d
In other action, Qingdao defeated Liaoning 94-78, securing their second win. The standings are tight: Beijing leads with 2 wins and 1 loss, while Xinjiang and Nanjing both have 1 win and 1 loss. \ud83c\udfc6
Stay tuned for Saturday's matchups! Liaoning faces Nanjing, and Xinjiang takes on Qingdao. The top two teams from the group will advance to the next stage. Who's ready for more hoops action? \ud83d\ude4c
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
