On June 29, the U18 Women’s Basketball semi-finals kick off with a clash between China and Korea.
During the group stage, both China and defending champions Australia secured three consecutive victories, ensuring they topped their groups with unbeaten records and advanced directly to the semi-finals. The Chinese Women’s Basketball team had ample preparation time, while Korea comfortably defeated New Zealand 86-66 to book their spot in the semis.
China’s U18 Women’s Basketball star Zhang Ziyu has been shining bright at the U18 Women’s Asia Cup. In the game against traditional Asian powerhouse Japan, she erupted for 44 points and 14 rebounds, virtually unstoppable in her low-post game.
Coach Wang Guizhi has managed Zhang Ziyu’s stamina well, as evident in her strict control of playing time: limiting her to 6 minutes per quarter in the first half against Japan, resting her in the third quarter after 7 minutes, and using her for just 3 minutes in the fourth before saving her for the final 4 minutes to close out the game.
When she fully utilizes her height advantage and her teammates compensate for defensive mobility shortcomings, this Chinese team becomes a strong contender for the title.
In their victory over New Zealand, the Korean U18 Women’s Basketball team displayed impressive three-point shooting, connecting on 12 of 25 attempts (48%). Four players scored in double digits, with team leader Lee Minji playing all 33 minutes, shooting 8 of 15, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, to finish with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, leading her team past New Zealand. She was undeniably instrumental in their win.
The tallest player on the Korean squad stands at just 1.8 meters, making it challenging to match up with Zhang Ziyu’s height. Their ability to maintain accurate outside shooting will likely be crucial for Korea to gain an advantage.
It’s worth noting that in the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup, Korea finished fifth and failed to make the top four, with China being the team that eliminated them.
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