China Men’s Basketball Team vs. Joventut Badalona Preview: Zhou Qi’s Participation in Doubt, Guo Shiqiang Aims for a Comeback

On September 20th, the men’s basketball friendly match continues with the second leg between the China Men’s Basketball Team and Joventut Badalona.

In the first game, the China Men’s Basketball Team lost to their opponent 65-70. Hu Mingxuan and Liao San’ning performed outstandingly but made consecutive mistakes in the critical moments of the fourth quarter, preventing the team from making a comeback. This match is the last encounter between the two sides. Can Guo Shiqiang, after two days of rest and adjustment, secure a win at home?

The net scoring performance of the China Men’s Basketball Team in the first game deserves recognition, especially in terms of physical fitness. Most players who took the court maintained a positive attitude throughout the friendly match. As captain, Hu Mingxuan not only scored 12 points but also provided 11 assists. In his post-game interview, he expressed feeling a greater sense of mission. Apart from the mistakes in the decisive moments, young guard Liao San’ning’s performance met expectations. If he can improve his ball handling, he has the potential to become a core guard for the national team.

To defeat Joventut Badalona at home, the forwards need to step up more. While Zhu Junlong provides a certain level of stability, Du Runwang, as the key forward, only managed one out of five from beyond the arc in the first game and committed a traveling violation in the crucial moments. With full trust from Coach Guo Shiqiang, Du Runwang needs to repay that trust with his actions.

Whether Zhou Qi will play remains uncertain, with no official updates. However, considering Hu Jinqiu’s limited playing time of less than ten minutes in the first game and Yang Hansen’s lack of ball-handling opportunities, this team lacks standout characteristics. To win the second game, they need to create an advantage in the paint.

Joventut Badalona, judged by European standards, are actually a mid-to-lower-tier team. With their key foreign player absent, the club management and coaching staff are using these games for training purposes. The intensity and pace of the games are not as high as those seen in the FIBA World Cup or the Olympics.

The China Men’s Basketball Team is likely to field its full squad for the second game, aiming to end the off-season on a winning note. Core players such as Hu Mingxuan, Hu Jinqiu, Zhu Junlong, and Liao San’ning need to take on significant defensive and offensive responsibilities. Whether Zhou Qi plays will depend on his physical condition.

>>”>For more predictions on this match, click >>>