China determined to put on a show for Hong Kong fans in 2023 Fiba World Cup qualifiers
- ‘We have not played home matches for three years and want to show best of Chinese basketball,’ captain Zhou Peng says
- China face Kazakhstan in Tsuen Wan on Thursday and are eager to put their hard work under new coach into practice
China will start their preparation for the 2023 Fiba World Cup finals when they meet Kazakhstan in an Asian Qualifiers group F clash at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre on Thursday.
With eight wins in 10 matches so far, the Chinese, who are second in the table behind leaders Australia, have already qualified for this summer’s showpiece, to be held in three different nations – the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia – from August 25 to September 10.
While Kazakhstan still have slim hopes of reaching the finals in this last playing window, which also features a second round of matches on Sunday, it will be a good opportunity for China’s new coach Sasha Djordjevic to check out his charges before things get under way in the global showpiece comprising the world’s top 32 teams.
The Serbian, who led his country to two silver medals at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, was given the top job last November after parting ways with Turkish club Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the summer.
And both players and fans will be eager to see if the new manager can build a winning culture as early as possible.
China beat Kazakhstan 68-56 in Astana when they last met in August. With many of the top players – headed by centre Zhou Qi and guard Guo Ailun – arriving in Hong Kong after a training stint in Shanghai, they will be confident of another favourable result.
