U21 ‌vs CUBAL Semi-Finals: Tsinghua University Team Wins Championship

The 2024 U21 and Chinese University Basketball League (CUBAL) semi-finals competition (Yunnan Baiyao Division) concluded on September 3. The Tsinghua University team emerged as the champion, while the Guangzhou Long ⁢Lions Youth Team and the Beijing Sport University team​ secured second and third place, respectively.

A total of eight teams participated in the competition, comprising the top four teams from CUBAL and the National U21 Youth Basketball Championship. This event⁤ has become the highest-level competition between professional youth training teams and college teams in this age group in the​ country.

In the third and fourth place finals, Beijing Sport University staged a remarkable comeback against the National U21 Youth Championship champion Zhejiang Chouzhou team. After trailing by 15 points in the first three quarters, Beijing Sport University won 81-79.

Zulibuhar, who played a crucial role in⁣ Beijing Sport University’s victory,⁣ attributed⁢ their success to targeted defensive​ arrangements for the key ‍players⁤ of Chouzhou. “Playing against professional youth training teams is extremely⁤ intense, and their professionalism is very​ high. ⁢The‌ tactics arranged by the ‌coach can be executed immediately in the next round, making it an ‍excellent exercise for us.”

The final match saw Tsinghua University⁣ face off against the Dragon and Lion Youth ‍Team. Tsinghua University led by 30 points at one point and ultimately⁣ won with a score of 84-58. Lu Jun scored a team-high‍ 18 points.

Yuan Zhaoyao, a player of the Lions team,‍ acknowledged the ​strength ‍of​ Tsinghua University, stating, “Tsinghua has always been ‍a very⁤ tough opponent. Their system and individual abilities are very complete. I didn’t play well against them at all.” Despite joining a professional ‍team, Yuan Zhaoyao believes that exchanges with top college teams ⁢help him identify his own shortcomings.

The ​competition aims to build a platform ⁣for exchanges ⁢between the sports and education systems, promote⁢ the integration ‍of sports and education, and⁢ improve China’s basketball reserve talent training system.

Peng Fei, head coach‌ of ⁤Shanghai Jiushi Youth Team, emphasized the significance ​of the competition for ⁤their training. “The youth team has limited competition opportunities for this age group, and in the youth competition system, the opponents are too⁣ familiar with each other. Now we have this opportunity to play against a high-level university team that is older than us and is one of the top four in the country.⁢ It is a valuable experience for us.”