Chinese women's basketball team returns to the pinnacle of Asia, watch Li Meng at a critical moment! After a gap of 12 years, Han Xu, the top scorer of the Chinese women's basketball team, has won the Asian Cup
This afternoon Beijing time, in the final of the 2023 Women's Basketball Asian Cup, the Chinese women's basketball team, despite falling behind for most of the game, ultimately defeated the Japanese women's basketball team 73-71 to win the championship! This is also after 12 years, the Chinese women's basketball team has returned to the top of Asia. After the game, Chinese women's basketball center Han Xu was elected as the Most Valuable Player of this year's Asian Cup.
The last time the Chinese women's basketball team won the Asian Cup championship was in 2011, when they defeated the South Korean women's basketball team in the final. Afterwards, the girls reached the final three times and lost to the Japanese women's basketball team.
In 2015, we fought at our doorstep and suffered a major defeat of 50-85. In 2019 and 2021, there were two consecutive terms, losing 3 points and 5 points, both of which were very regrettable. As the saying goes, "the enemy's path is narrow." This year's Asian Cup, the goal of the Chinese women's basketball team is to "avenge" the Japanese women's basketball team.
Previously, according to the latest official FIBA update of the women's basketball Asian Cup strength chart, the Japanese women's basketball team surpassed the Chinese women's basketball team and rose to first place. Although the performance of the Japanese women's basketball team in last year's World Cup was not ideal, they are still the top strong team in the world women's basketball world, with two black players, Stephanie and Okye, in the team. In addition, even without Machida Kazuki, there are still generals such as Hayashi Hayashi, Kanako Honbashi, and Nanako Endo sitting in this cup, with skilled coordination and precise shooting ability, all of which are highly lethal.
So today's final can be said to be a real peak battle in Asia.
Han Xu became the key to the Chinese women's basketball team's comeback victory in this game. She played for 34 minutes, made 17 out of 12 shots, made 2 out of 2 three pointers, and scored 26 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.
In the previous four games, Han Xu played an average of 30.7 minutes per game, scoring 21 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and an efficiency value of 29.3, all of which ranked first in the game.
Two years ago in the Women's Basketball Asian Cup, Han Xu averaged 15.8 minutes per game, scoring 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds. Now, Han Xu's progress is evident.
Another main general, Li Meng, also made a huge contribution. She played for 34 minutes, making 5 out of 11 shots, making 3 out of 6 three pointers, scoring 17 points, assisting 5 rebounds, and scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the team overtake.
In addition, she also caused a cover foul by the opponent at a critical moment and hit a crucial free throw, which was also an important contributor to the team's ultimate victory.
It has to be said that Han Xu's role in the interior is very obvious, whether it is attacking the basket or protecting the frame, it can be called the ultimate goal of the Chinese women's basketball team. Li Meng's comprehensive ability in the outside is equally indispensable, and being able to step forward at critical moments is truly a LeBron Dream.
In this cup competition, the Chinese women's basketball team was plagued by injuries, and the absence of Li Yueru, Huang Sijing, and Wu Tongtong still caused a significant loss to our strength. However, despite facing numerous difficulties, the women's basketball girls still qualified early for the 2026 Women's Basketball World Cup and the qualification rounds for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as expected by the outside world. They ultimately won the long-awaited Asian Cup championship, which can be said to boost morale and lift people's hearts.
