China secures second victory against D’Tigress
China defeated Nigeria‘s D’Tigress with a score of 69-65 in their second Pre-World Cup exhibition game held in Haikou. This result marks China‘s second consecutive win against the African champions, following a 70-67 victory in their initial encounter. The series is part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin.
During the second game, D’Tigress maintained control for significant periods, leading 54-46 as they entered the final quarter. However, China mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter. Tang Ziting initiated China‘s scoring in the final period with a three-pointer, followed by another long-range shot that leveled the score at 54-54. Zhang Ziyu contributed inside the paint, and Wang Siyu secured the win by making four crucial free throws in the closing moments.
Tang Ziting concluded the game with nine points. Zhang Ziyu, who is 19 years old, was a key performer, achieving a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. In the first half, Zhang Ziyu was limited to six points, a notable improvement from her 24-point performance in the first game.
The first half of the game was intensely contested, featuring 11 lead changes, with both teams tied at 33-33 at halftime. Nigeria‘s physical defense played a significant role in keeping them competitive. Despite China committing 19 turnovers, five more than Nigeria, they managed to stay close and ultimately turned the game around in the final quarter.
D’Tigress’s World Cup preparations continue
The head coach of China, Gong Luming, acknowledged the benefit of playing against the Nigerian side, particularly given that seven of their players participated in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Gong believes these games are valuable for his young team as they build chemistry and gain experience ahead of the World Cup. He noted improvements in rebounding compared to the first game but highlighted that turnovers remained an area for improvement.
The series against China is the second phase of D’Tigress‘s five-stage “Road to Berlin” preparation program. Nigeria began their preparations in the United States, where they played exhibition games between July 29 and August 2. Following the games in China, D’Tigress will move their training camp to Tenerife, Spain.
In Tenerife, Nigeria is scheduled to play additional preparation matches against Spain and Belgium between August 15 and 24. The team will then travel to Zaragoza for further games against Mali and Puerto Rico from August 25 to September 3. The FIBA Women’s World Cup is set to take place in Berlin from September 4 to 13.
D’Tigress has been drawn into Group B for the World Cup, alongside South Korea, Hungary, and France. The team hopes that their comprehensive preparation schedule will ensure they are in optimal condition for the global tournament. Ezinne Kalu, a guard for D’Tigress, expressed anticipation for the final game against China, viewing it as an opportunity to address previous mistakes.
Kalu, who scored 13 points in the second game, stated that the team is determined to perform well in the final test against the Asian champions. She believes it will be challenging for China to secure three consecutive wins and sees the upcoming game as a chance for Nigeria to correct their performance. The final game of the series will provide another opportunity for Rena Wakama‘s team to test themselves against a prominent team in women’s basketball.
The African champions qualified for the World Cup as the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket champions, which secured an automatic spot in the expanded 16-team tournament. The team’s captain, Amy Okonkwo, has stated that Nigeria‘s objective at the World Cup is to win a medal. She expressed confidence in the team’s quality, experience, and motivation to compete with top teams globally.
The final game of the three-match series between D’Tigress and China is scheduled for Wednesday in Foshan.
Source: premiumtimesng.com