In a nail-biting WCBA finals clash that had fans on the edge of their seats, Dongguan stunned reigning champs Sichuan with a 90-83 victory, putting them just one win away from the title! 🎉
Making their first finals appearance in six years, Dongguan showcased a balanced attack as five players hit double figures. Yang Shuyu led the charge with 23 points, while Yang Liwei and Aliyah Collier contributed 20 and 18 points respectively. ⚡
The game started with explosive energy as Yang Liwei opened the scoring with a fast break layup. Sichuan responded quickly with solid paint points from Elizabeth Cambage, Jonquel Jones, and Li Meng, tying the first quarter at 24-24.
At halftime, the score was deadlocked at 44-44. A buzzer-beater three-pointer by Yang Liwei gave Dongguan a slight edge heading into the final quarter, where they eventually stretched the lead to 11 points with a determined defensive effort. 🏀
Dongguan coach-player Huang Sijing reflected on the win, saying, "I just told my players to enjoy this stage and show their best, and they did, which made me quite proud." On the flip side, Sichuan coach Milos Paden admitted, "We rushed, we panicked, and we worked for them."
Despite a stellar 31-point performance from Sichuan's Jonquel Jones—who shot 13 for 17—their individual brilliance wasn't enough to overcome Dongguan's unified team effort.
Game 3 is set to take place on Sichuan's home court this Thursday. With both teams set to adjust their strategies, fans can expect more high-voltage basketball action in this fierce series!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
