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| Zeng Fanbo skies high for the slam. FIBA |
MANILA—In a matchup that resembled a classic David-versus-Goliath story, the Goliath of China prevailed emphatically, dismantling Guam, 101-53, in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday night at the Hefei Sports Center.
China's commanding performance was fueled by an aggressive offensive attack and a stifling defense, overwhelming the tiny Pacific island nation from the second quarter onward.
Despite a competitive first quarter that ended with China leading 21-17, the floodgates opened in the second period.
Zeng Fanbo, who honed his craft with NBA G-League Ignite, ignited China's offense, helping stretch the lead to 45-27 by halftime.
The second half was the Yang Hanseng Show.
The 7-foot-1 NBA prospect, renowned for his breakout performance in the U19 World Cup, showcased his potential by dominating both ends of the floor.
Yang delivered 16 points on 87.5 percent shooting, grabbed six rebounds, and swatted three shots in just over 19 minutes of play, effectively drowning any hopes of a Guam comeback.
China's collective effort featured strong contributions from Zeng (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists) and Zhu Junlong (10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists).
The host nation was relentless, outscoring Guam 56-26 in the second half to secure their second win in Group C, improving to a 2-1 record.
On the other hand, Guam's Takumi Fukuda, also known as Gabriel Simon, led his side with 14 points and four rebounds.
Jericho Cruz struggles to sustain strong start
At least in the first quarter, San Miguel swingman Jericho Cruz rose to the occasion in leading Guam on Thursday night.
Cruz was off to a good start after scoring six points in the first quarter.
The 6-foot-3 guard had difficulty finding his rhythm in the second frame, missing several attempts before finally sinking a three-pointer at the four-minute mark.
After hitting a fadeaway jumper in the third quarter, he spent the remainder of the game on the sidelines as his team fell behind by as much as 49 points.
Cruz finished with 12 points but on 30 percent shooting from the field and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc in 28 minutes of action, further limiting his offensive impact.
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