Won 75-72 But Left With a Serious Expression? Gong Luming's Postgame Remarks Reveal the Harsh Reality of Women's Basketball

In the women's basketball World Cup qualifying playoff held in the early hours of September 10 Beijing time, China women's basketball team fought hard to defeat Puerto Rico 75-72 and successfully secure a place in the quarterfinals. From the result, it was a win, but fans who watched the process knew that China earned the victory in a very difficult way.

At the start of the first quarter, Yang Shuyu and Han Xu hit consecutive three-pointers, while substitute player Zhang Ziyu also scored steadily in the paint. China led temporarily 24-21. However, Puerto Rico did not give up, launching waves of counterattacks led by San Antonio and using individual drives to cut the deficit. Although Puerto Rico did not have a significant height advantage, its full-court pressure disrupted China's backcourt passing speed and repeatedly forced turnovers. At halftime, China led only 41-40, leaving the game undecided.

The third quarter was the toughest period. With China struggling from outside, the team went 0-for-6 on three-point attempts and experienced several offensive stalls. Puerto Rico took advantage by hitting mid-range and long-range shots to take the lead. By the end of the third quarter, China trailed 52-53 by one point, leaving the situation dangerous. Without Han Xu stepping up in the fourth quarter, the outcome of the game could have been different.

In the final quarter, Han Xu took responsibility for the team's offense, scoring 14 points in the period. She performed well both with inside attacks and outside shooting. Luo Xinyi hit a crucial three-pointer to stabilize the team, and Yang Shuyu calmly made two free throws in the closing moments to extend the lead slightly. The final score was 75-72, with China winning by three points.

According to the full-game statistics, Han Xu recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Yang Shuyu scored 15 points and provided 11 assists, while Zhang Ziyu contributed 13 points. Puerto Rico's key player San Antonio finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.

After the win, Gong Luming did not give excessive praise to the players. He said the opponent's pressure defense caused major difficulties, which were reflected in unstable backcourt passing, too many turnovers, and poor inside-outside coordination. He stated that France, their next opponent, is the Olympic runner-up, has aggressive defense, and has studied this game in great detail. The team needs to use opportunities against strong opponents to improve its interior strength and continue developing for future major tournaments.

Many fans only saw the result of advancing and did not notice the underlying concerns. With two tall centers in Han Xu and Zhang Ziyu, China could have built a stable height advantage, but it was restricted by Puerto Rico's quick and agile style. Under high-pressure defense, problems with guard-line passing turnovers have already appeared. When opponents continue increasing pressure, China's offense can become stagnant. This is not just an occasional fluctuation, but a weakness the team must address at this stage.

This game was mainly supported by Han Xu's individual ability. If the interior core is limited, the team lacks a stable scoring option. Puerto Rico is not one of the strongest teams in the world, but the difficulty China faced in the game already shows the problems that exist.

Reaching the quarterfinals is only the beginning. The upcoming game against France women's basketball team will be the real test. Gong Luming's calm attitude is not a denial of the players' efforts, but comes from recognizing the harsh nature of competitive sports: a narrow victory cannot hide existing problems. Only after solving these issues can this young women's basketball team establish itself on a higher stage.