CHINA defeated Cameroon 85-63 Sunday in Xi’an at the 2019 China-Cameroon men’s International Basketball Challenge.

The game was taken as a warm-up for the host team before the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Former NBA player Ding Yanyuhang had left the team temporarily because of injury, while local star Yi Jianlian was absent from the roster of because of a slight injury, although the 32-year-old appeared in the stadium and threw his supporters into a frenzy before the match.

Chinese head coach Li Nan called a timeout in the first minute, but he couldn’t stop team Cameroon is lead with a 8-4 spurt at the beginning. The host team took over the match shortly as Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin earned seven points consecutively, building up a two-point advantage in the first quarter.

China adjusted its defensive tactics in the second period but failed to enlarge its advantage into double digits. Thanks to 8 points from Wang Zhelin, the host team ended the first half 42-35.

China totally outplayed its opponent in the second half and with better defense and shooting percentage, the host team ended the third quarter with a 22-point advantage.

Cameroon tried hard in the fourth quarter but couldn’t narrow the gap. With its best player Adala William fouled out, Cameroon lost the match 85-63.

Zhao Rui grabbed 17 points and two rebounds while Wang Zhelin contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. Nikene Aziz led Cameroon with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

“We didn’t play very well in the first half, maybe my players were a little tired. The second half was much better as we built a solid defense system,” Li Nan said.

Li Nan told Xinhua that he would announce China’s FIBA World Cup squad before August 23. “Everybody on our team has chance to be included on the final roster,” Li said.

(Xinhua)