Guo Ailun rises to the basket during China's 70-55 victory over Cote d'Ivoire at the FIBA World Cup at Wukesong Arena in Beijing on Saturday. (ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY)
China's young guns announced themselves on the global stage with a hard-fought 70-55 victory over Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday as the host got its FIBA World Cup campaign off to a flying start.
The energy was high, the crowd was loud and the hustle was at times brutal at a packed Wukesong Arena in Beijing-all making for an electric atmosphere reminiscent of the 2008 Olympics at the same venue.
Led by star trio Guo Ailun, Yi Jianlian and Zhou Qi, China snapped a 14-game losing streak at the tournament and the Olympics that stretched back over nine years. China's last major international win was over the same opponent at the 2010 world championships (the Cup's predecessor) in Turkey.
Under the watchful eye of Chinese Basketball Association chairman Yao Ming, who led the 2008 squad to a record eighth-place finish at the Beijing Games, Guo and Zhou's guard-center tandem provided particular cause for optimism.
"We are battling our way back into contention on an uphill slope and we need our young leaders to grow quickly to carry us through the struggle," said China's head coach Li Nan, a sharpshooter from the 2008 vintage.
"To manage to win another major international game after nine years of waiting means that Chinese basketball has come a long way after hitting rock bottom.
"Defensively, we've become much better, but offensively we are still in great need of standout individuals that can attack proficiently and creatively."
Guo, who at 16 was a member of the squad at the 2010 worlds, showed he has matured into a real leader, displaying impressive physicality and playmaking ability honed at two Olympics and three Asian Cups.
As the Ivorians threatened to reel in China midway through the third quarter, Guo stepped up to dictate an 11-2 run with two layups and an assist, helping the host extend its lead to double digits. From there, China never looked back.
Guo finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 9 assists-the latter figure tying Liu Wei's Team China record for the most in a single game.
"We've been expecting this victory for so long and we wanted it so much that we went out there feeling pretty psyched," said Liaoning Flying Leopards star Guo.
"The rousing home support was so strong that I feel like it even played a more important role than our game plan to carry us through the tense period and to play all out."
Huge credit also went to 7-foot-1 center Zhou, who looked rejuvenated following his difficult two years in the NBA that ended with him being waived in December by the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets' 2016 draft pick chipped in with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in nearly 34 minutes on court-the longest of all his teammates.
"I think this is a great stage to show the world that I am way better than how I struggled in the NBA over the past two seasons," said the 23-year-old, who has returned to the CBA's Xinjiang Flying Tigers for the 2019-20 season.
Even with the youngsters firing on all cylinders, veteran Yi, the only member of the 2008 squad on the current team, cemented his reputation as China's backbone by scoring 17 of his game-high 19 points in the second half.
"To start winning internationally again was a good sign but we will stick to our underdog mindset throughout the tournament, always looking up to the best and trying to close the gap," said the 31-year-old, who spent five turbulent years in the NBA with five teams after being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2007.
The host will next face Poland on Monday, with the winner taking sole possession of first spot in Group A.Should China lose, the host and Venezuela will battle on Sept 4 for second spot, which would earn qualification for the next group round where Argentina, Russia and Nigeria could await.
Poland's head coach Mike Taylor said his squad won't fear China in its first World Cup outing in 52 years.
"Our team has experience playing in these types of focal-point games against the home country," said the American after the Poles beat Venezuela 80-69 earlier on Saturday. "We respect the Chinese team but I know our guys are going to rise to that challenge."
