CBA new season kicks off- Defending champion Liaoning men’s basketball team reverses victory

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On October 12th, the opening game of the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) took place at the Liaoning Gymnasium. The reigning champions, Liaoning Flying Leopards, hosted the Zhejiang Lions and secured a victory, finishing with a score of 123 to 112.

Historically, Liaoning has a strong advantage over Zhejiang, winning 56 out of 72 matchups. However, last season, the tables turned as Liaoning lost both games against Zhejiang.

During the game on the 12th, the Liaoning team started off slowly, with the three foreign players contributing 31 points while the domestic players were held scoreless in the first quarter. Zhejiang surged ahead, scoring six consecutive points to start the second quarter, and Liaoning trailed at halftime with a score of 52 to 61. The third quarter saw a turnaround as Liaoning’s guard Zhao Jiwei hit multiple three-pointers, leading an impressive 20-12 scoring run to take the lead, and the team went on to score 42 points in that quarter. By the fourth quarter, Liaoning had taken full control, expanding their lead and ultimately winning the game.

In this match, five players from Liaoning scored in double figures, with foreign player Ferg scoring a game-high 39 points, alongside 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals. Another foreign player, Shayok, contributed 20 points and 6 rebounds, while Zhao Jiwei added 22 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. For Zhejiang, foreign player Bass scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds with 6 assists, while Wu Qian added 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.

After the game, Liaoning’s head coach Yang Ming reflected on the intense opener, acknowledging that both teams put on an exciting performance. He noted that despite the team’s struggles with injuries and chemistry, the players demonstrated resilience and utilized their experience from previous seasons, showcasing their execution and ability to make critical plays. He also pointed out that the new foreign player policy would provide more opportunities for domestic players to develop, and he emphasized the team’s focus on preparing for the next game.

Before the game began, the Liaoning team received their championship rings from the previous season, and the atmosphere was further electrified as the team’s fourth championship banner was raised high in the arena.