On the basketball stage, every Asian Cup is a grand event of Asian basketball, and the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's Basketball Asian Cup is even more watchful. On June 30, Beijing time, a wonderful final was played between the Chinese team and the Australian team. This is a contest about honor, strength and dreams, and the girls of the Chinese women's basketball team, with full of enthusiasm and firm faith, face a strong opponent from the southern hemisphere.
In the starting lineup of the Chinese women's basketball team, the most eye-catching is undoubtedly Zhang Ziyu, who is 2.23 meters tall. Her appearance not only brought the Chinese team an absolute advantage on the inside, but also put huge pressure on the opponent psychologically. However, the Australian team clearly prepared the giant, and their tactical set-up and targeted defense made Zhang Ziyu feel an unprecedented challenge in the first quarter of the game.
At the beginning of the game, Zhang Ziyu was in a difficult situation. The Australian team's defensive strategy was very clear, using quick breakthroughs and multi-player packs to effectively limit Zhang Ziyu's play. She missed many shots under the basket, and her hand felt a little rusty. At the end of the first quarter, Zhang Ziyu hit only 1 of 5 shots, made 2 turnovers, and only hit 3 of 6 free throws, scoring only 5 points. Such a start is undoubtedly a big blow to the Chinese team that aims to win the championship.
Despite the unfavorable first quarter, the Chinese team did not give up. At the beginning of the second quarter, the No. 11 player successfully played 2+1 with his personal ability, injecting a shot in the arm for the Chinese team. However, the Australian women's basketball team's offense is still sharp, and their tacit cooperation between the inside and outside makes the Chinese team's defense seem a little inadequate. In such adversity, Zhang Ziyu began to gradually find her form, her frame protection ability and shooting stability gradually improved, and in the second quarter 3 minutes, she scored consecutive points and played 2+1 many times, helping the Chinese team stabilize its position.
As the game deepened, Zhang Ziyu gradually adapted to the opponent's defensive rhythm. Her resurgence is not only about scoring, but also about controlling the pace of the game. At the critical moment in the second quarter, Zhang Ziyu scored continuously, and every attack she made seemed so decisive and accurate. Her recovery has brought hope to the Chinese team, but also made the opponent feel the pressure. By the end of the first half, Zhang Ziyu had contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, including 8 rebounds in the frontcourt, and her performance was undoubtedly the key to the Chinese team's ability to bite the score.
At the end of the first half, the Chinese U18 women's basketball team trailed the Australian U18 women's basketball team by 7 points 42-49. Zhang's stats were particularly eye-catching: he played 11 minutes, shot 7 of 19 from the field and 5 of 10 from the free throw line, scoring 19 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, including eight from the frontcourt. These statistics not only show Zhang Ziyu's individual ability, but also reflect her influence on the court and her contribution to the game.
Although the Chinese team faced a lot of challenges in the first half, their perseverance and spirit of not giving up were impressive. Zhang Ziyu's recovery is not only a reflection of individual ability, but also a portrayal of team spirit. In the face of adversity, the girls of the Chinese women's basketball team showed tenacious fighting spirit and team strength, and every effort they made was accumulating strength for the second half of the game.
With the end of the first half, although the Chinese team temporarily fell behind, their performance has earned respect and expectations. Looking ahead to the second half, the Chinese team will need to make tactical adjustments while maintaining Zhang's hot form. They need to focus more on teamwork and improve defensive quality while looking for more scoring opportunities on the offensive end. We have reason to believe that the girls of the Chinese women's basketball team can bring us more surprises in the second half.
The game of basketball is not only a contest of skills and tactics, but also a test of spirit and will. Although the Chinese women's basketball team faced challenges in the first half of the Asian Cup finals, their persistence and hard work have shown the true meaning of the basketball spirit. Regardless of the outcome of the match, their performance deserves our respect and praise. Let us look forward to the wonderful performance of the Chinese women's basketball team in the second half, and let us remember that no matter whether we win or lose, the spirit of basketball is always worth inheriting and carrying forward.