China News Service, Beijing, April 5 (Reporter Liu Xingchen) In the early morning of the 5th, Beijing time, the group stage of the 2024 Mannheim Invitational Tournament continued. The Chinese U17 men's basketball team, which had suffered four consecutive defeats, faced the challenge of the German U17 men's basketball team. In this game, the two sides struggled until the last moment. As Zhang Boyuan made a free throw, the Chinese team completed a near-final victory and defeated its opponent 63:62, winning its first victory in this tournament.
Image source: China Basketball Team Weibo
In the 2023 FIBA U16 Men's Basketball Asian Championship, the Chinese U16 Men's Basketball Team won the bronze medal and qualified for the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. At that time, in the battle for third place, the Chinese team defeated the Philippine team. In that competition, Zhang Boyuan performed well. Born in 2007, he averaged 20.5 points and 5 rebounds per game and was selected to the best team.
In March this year, the U17 World Cup draw results were released, and the Chinese team entered Group B. The opponents in the same group were the United States, France and Guinea. The event will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 29th to July 7th.
Image source: China Basketball Team Weibo
It is precisely in order to better prepare for the U17 World Cup that the Chinese U17 Men's Basketball Team chose to compete in the 2024 Mannheim Invitational Tournament. The Chinese team is divided into Group B, and its opponents in the same group include Greece, Italy, Serbia, Egypt, and Germany.
After suffering three consecutive defeats, the Chinese team was only one step away from victory in the last game against Egypt.
In the opening stage, the Chinese team blossomed internally and externally under the leadership of Zhang Boyuan and others, and the lead once reached 19 points. But then the opponents continued to increase their defensive intensity, and the point difference was gradually smoothed out. Entering overtime, the Chinese team seemed immature in handling key balls, and eventually suffered a reversal at 88:94.
Image source: China Basketball Team Weibo
The match against the German team was the Chinese team’s last match in the group stage of the Mannheim Invitational Tournament. At the beginning of the game, the Chinese team entered the state slowly and was defeated by the opponent 20:5. After that, the boys who had no way out took more determined shots from the outside and narrowed the point difference to single digits through three-point shooting.
The two sides fought again, and the two sides fell into entanglement. The German team used counterattack opportunities to frequently attack the basket to score points, while the Chinese team continued its good touch from the outside. At the last moment of the game, Zhang Boyuan once again showed his "big heart". After scoring consecutive points with sudden inside and outside shots, he helped the Chinese team narrow the point difference to only one point.
23 seconds before the end, Zhang Boyuan broke through from the left and made a layup that caused a foul on his opponent. He made two free throws to help the Chinese team lead the score 63:62.
As the German team's last three-point shot missed, the Chinese team got its first victory in the tournament as expected, and the players rushed into the field to embrace and celebrate. In this game, the Chinese team hit 8 three-pointers and had more rebounds than its opponents.
Image source: China Basketball Team Weibo
In all five group matches, Zhang Boyuan scored in double figures. He is the most stable scoring point in the team: against Italy, he made 8 of 14 shots, hit 5 three-pointers, and scored a game-high 27 points; against Egypt; , he once again scored a game-high 32 points; against the German team, he made 10 of 20 shots, scored a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds, and hit key free throws, leading the team to a reversal and victory.
Before going to this competition, Li Xiaoyong, head coach of China's U17 men's basketball team, said that the Mannheim Invitational Tournament will allow the team to learn the world's advanced basketball playing methods. "The Egyptian team was the runner-up in the non-youth championship last year, and teams such as Greece are also traditional strong teams in the European Youth Championship. We hope to understand the gap through discussions with strong teams, find the right direction, and make up for our own shortcomings and deficiencies."
Zhang Bin, director of youth training of the Chinese Basketball Association, said that the current Chinese U17 men's basketball team is relatively young, with 5 players participating in the U16 Men's Basketball Asian Championships, and the remaining 7 are new additions this year.
Facing the world's top teams, the Chinese U17 men's basketball team focuses on training. This victory will also inject more confidence into the team.
Chinese U17 men's basketball team photo. Image source: Chinese Basketball Association
According to the schedule, after winning this game, the Chinese U17 men's basketball team will face the Czech team at 21:15 on April 5, Beijing time. The two sides will compete in the ninth place qualifying match of the Mannheim Invitational. (over)