Hu Jinqiu (#21) of China shoots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup classification round game against Angola at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Philippines, August 31, 2023. /CFP
China defeated Angola 83-76 in their first classification round game in the FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Philippines, on Thursday, securing the team's first victory in the tournament.
Coach Aleksandar Djordjevic made several key changes to China's rotations. He replaced veteran Zhou Peng with Fu Hao in the starting lineup for the first quarter, dropped Wang Zhelin, entrusted Hu Jinqiu with over 31 minutes, limited Zhou Qi's time to 11 minutes and started both Hu Mingxuan and Hu Jinqiu in the third quarter.
Most of the above changes worked incredibly well. Hu Jinqiu was the best-performing Chinese player in Thursday's game, as he dropped a court-high 20 points, shooting 8-for-10 from the field. He is a much more reliable finisher than both Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin and grabbed a team-high two offensive rebounds.
Hu Mingxuan (#3) of China shoots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup classification round game against Angola at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Philippines, August 31, 2023. /CFP
Hu Mingxuan became China's sharpest attacker from the perimeter, earning seven free throws (and making six) and draining two triples to get 16 points. Li Kaier (formerly known as Kyle Anderson) shared his offensive aggressiveness by going to the free throw line 10 times, more than anyone else in the game, to score seven of his 17 points there.
The other key contribution Li made to China's victory was the seven rebounds he grabbed. One of the main reasons behind the team's previous three losses was their poor protection of defensive rebounds. Angola have been one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the World Cup. Neither have they managed to put together a delicate offensive system. The basic combination of shooting and rebounding has been their main way of attack.
That's why the turning point of Thursday's game was in the final four minutes of the third quarter. Angola got most of their 19 offensive rebounds before that and were the leading side. However, as China finally managed to enhance their defensive rebounding, they neutralized the opponents' offense and took the game under their control.
Li Kaier (#1) of China drives toward the rim in the FIBA Basketball World Cup classification round game against Angola at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Philippines, August 31, 2023. /CFP
China's improved defensive flexibility was also significant in winning Thursday's game. Having gone under screens and watched Angola's only reliable 3-point shooter, Childe Dundao, make two shots from downtown at the beginning of the first quarter, Chinese players began to work hard to beat every screen set for Dundao, allowing no triple by him in the rest of the game.
China began to apply 2-3 zone defense in the second half, continuing to exploit the opponents' poor shooting ability above the free throw line. Such defensive tactics proved correct and precisely what they should do to win.
China will face the Philippines on Saturday.
Other games on Thursday:
Code Verde 77-100 Finland
New Zealand 100-108 Mexico
Cote d'Ivoire 84-94 Lebanon
Japan 86-77 Venezuela
South Sudan 87-68 Philippines
Egypt 85-69 Jordan
France 82-55 Iran