Just three days after a nail-biter in Beijing last Friday, South Korea turned up the heat again yesterday in Wonju, cruising to a 90-76 victory over China in Group B of the Asian Qualifying for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. 🏀🔥
The rematch looked one-sided from the tip-off as the hosts exploded for a 28-13 opening quarter, then stretched their lead to 52-29 by halftime. South Korea's Lee Jung-hyun led the charge with a season-high 24 points, while Lee Hyun-jung followed up his 33-point Friday outburst with another strong 20-point performance.
China fought back after the break, sparked by Cheng Shuaipeng's slick scoring runs that saw him tally a team-high 19 points. Unfortunately for the visitors, Cheng exited early in the fourth quarter with an injury, and although Zhou Qi posted a solid double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds, it wasn't enough to overcome South Korea's momentum.
With back-to-back wins over China, South Korea now holds an early psychological edge in Group B. The ROK moves to 2-0, while China will look to regroup after two tough lessons in quick succession.
Next up, both teams gear up for their third qualifying matches – can South Korea keep the streak alive, or will China bite back? Stay tuned! 👀✨
Reference(s):
ROK tops China for back-to-back victories in FIBA World Cup Qualifying
cgtn.com
