- 2 months ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00A cynical first half performance, a scene that opened up a very sizable lead here at Max Schmeling Haller.
00:09At halftime it's China.
00:11You can hold that in the first few minutes of this third quarter.
00:16Second half, tipping off here in Berlin where it's China leading Italy 40-21
00:23in a battle for second place in their group, the winner to play Puerto Rico, the loser to play Australia.
00:34Here's Verona, one of the WNBA stars.
00:41Couldn't get it to go this time.
00:46Here's Jung.
00:49Han had the hot start.
00:51Three rebounds off a double-double.
00:54Same can be said for Jung.
00:55She's been excellent.
00:57Here is Han, right on cue.
01:02Again, straight down the gut of that defence.
01:06It's impressive.
01:09Her cut speed was excellent.
01:15Italy trying to share it around, but it just didn't work out.
01:20And the emotions from Andre, a couple of Bianca will say it all.
01:26It's part of Coach Kappa Bianca who's going to say,
01:29if we get really beat, that's good.
01:31We can find a way to react.
01:33He's going to milk it for all it's worth.
01:38A bit of a chip on the shoulder.
01:38They're not going to enjoy it, they're going to hate it.
01:40Yeah.
01:48Han again.
01:51Her own rebounds.
01:53Foul.
01:56There's just no way to stop her.
01:58Misses the shot.
02:00Great.
02:01Gets her own rebound.
02:02Not so great.
02:03Gets fouled.
02:05There's just no way.
02:06We're back again to the beginning of the game,
02:08where she's always beating people on front cuts.
02:11She's always getting position.
02:13And her teammates are looking.
02:14They're looking exactly at her to give her touches.
02:20The jacket's back on, but only just.
02:24Kappa Bianca.
02:24One.
02:30Kappa up to 13 points for the game.
02:3643 plays 21.
02:39Here at Max Schmelinghala.
02:45Zandalizini.
02:51Verona.
02:54Kicks her back out to Cecilia.
02:57Needed to go.
02:59Couldn't get the result.
03:02And here's Yang Chuyu, the star of the show.
03:05Zhang has a rare look at a three.
03:07And she joins the party.
03:10And she joins the party.
03:12And party's the right word.
03:14They are literally at speed.
03:17Everyone's confident.
03:20Everyone's happy as well.
03:22Genuine excitement.
03:23Yeah.
03:24It's a pleasure.
03:27Villa silences the crowd just for a second.
03:35That's what we're missing from Italy.
03:37Just that excitement.
03:39That love for each other.
03:41Those infectious vibes that they've had throughout the tournament.
03:45The crowd's obviously going a bit quiet.
03:47Not quite loving what they're seeing.
03:50It's tough out there.
03:52Well, if they need some inspiration, look at what Hungary did.
03:55They were absolutely left.
03:59Absolutely annihilated is the right word by France.
04:01Yet there they were, second in the group.
04:02They came back and responded.
04:04That's exactly where Italy are going to have to get themselves.
04:11You're right.
04:12Coach Campo Bianco almost has to have that mindset for the next game.
04:16To fight back if it stays this way.
04:23Santucci.
04:23Santucci.
04:24Kubai.
04:25That's better.
04:32Played off the cats.
04:33Caught it.
04:33Moved.
04:34Scored.
04:34There was no, I have to make a move.
04:37So much better.
04:46And straight away, when their defense goes and they force China away from the hoop.
04:52Different team.
04:55And straight away Coach Gong.
04:58China.
04:59It's a good time out.
05:00Stop any momentum that Italy can get.
05:03Where is Berliner?
05:04So we will hide to under the...
05:06And we'll take a listen to what he has to say to his players.
05:09And we'll juggle a little bit around.
05:13Just a lot.
05:14You're OK.
05:18Now the field is very easy.
05:21You need to do it.
05:23You need to stick around.
05:24You're too easy.
05:25You need to sit on the ground.
05:25You don't care for someone.
05:26Don't you take a look.
05:29You're too soon.
05:32It's not going to be able to get out.
05:33He's a big fan.
05:36You want to attack him.
05:39You want to attack him.
05:42He won't be able to run away.
05:44He'll be able to run away after playing him a little.
05:48He'll be able to keep his partner up.
05:50Don't look at him.
05:52He's easy.
05:53Come on!
05:54Come on!
05:56Come on!
05:57Come on!
06:04So the Italy fans trying to get their team up and about back-to-back baskets just before
06:09that timeout.
06:11Not too many smiles on that young woman's face unfortunately.
06:17Because right now her team is trailing 46-25.
06:26Can Villa get them going?
06:29Zandala Zini.
06:32There's the shots she likes to take.
06:35And they've continued rolling here.
06:37That's three in a row now for Italy.
06:42Finding some rhythm.
06:48Kubei stole it away and here goes Zandala Zini again up against Haan.
06:53And she has to backtrack.
06:55Good by Haan to get back.
06:56On defense.
06:59Keyes double-teamed to Chiglia.
07:02In it goes.
07:04Another two to Zandala Zini.
07:08Oh, the possession before building on that defense.
07:12They took away the first cup.
07:13Made them go to a second cup.
07:15Turned it over China because they were taking out what they wanted to run.
07:18That's what they literally do to people.
07:19They take them out of what they want to run.
07:22And now the crowd up and about.
07:25Law Sinu tries to calm things down but again Italy come away with it.
07:32You can see John getting ready to come back on.
07:35A chance to stop some momentum.
07:38But Italy right now are hanging in there.
07:43Kubei.
07:43With the shot clock down to five finds Villa on the beautiful assist.
07:48Here comes Italy.
07:53Well, we said we'd know in the first couple of minutes.
07:56Well, we know.
07:58They really have made a statement in this first part.
08:01This third quarter.
08:03Their defense has sparked a little run.
08:08Here goes John.
08:10That's a good response.
08:12She's got herself involved in this quarter.
08:15That's a great response.
08:16Not settling for a jumper.
08:18Not just taking the easy option.
08:22It's stopped a 10-0 run for Italy.
08:26And Zhang once again on the defensive end just as she made that clutch shot.
08:34She's working hard on defense.
08:40And here comes Zhang Zuyu.
08:43So Kuchy with the three fouls.
08:48Right.
08:48They repeat what they did in the first half.
08:50They'll just move her.
08:51Maybe have a screen.
08:53And then they'll send her to the low block.
08:55And she will touch the ball.
09:02Zhang feeds Wanda this time.
09:07Smallest player out there gets her own offensive rebound.
09:14Zhang dives in.
09:15Too hot.
09:19Xander Lazzini puts on the moves and is stopped by Tang in the process.
09:25And here the first personal, the first foul, the first foul, the first foul of China.
09:33So 48 plays 31.
09:35It's been a good response from Italy.
09:40Can they keep it rolling?
09:41They've got a lot of work to do to peg this margin back.
09:46They've shown with a 10-0 run they can score quickly even though it's been a struggle for them throughout
09:53the tournament.
09:55Villa goes in from the elbow and that's the class of Matilde Villa.
10:02It's impressive this from Italy.
10:04It's an impressive response to this third quarter.
10:12Wang now.
10:14Have to compete with the crowd who's all of a sudden up in raptures for Italy as Zhang goes over
10:20the top of Kuba.
10:21Oh, it fell short.
10:24Can you believe it?
10:26Good luck behind the back.
10:28Oh, two more to come.
10:30What a star she is.
10:33China number nine.
10:35John Zijin.
10:37Second personal.
10:39It's right to score.
10:39Well, Zhang Ziyu is now getting the treatment she's got in the first two games where people are walking into
10:46a space,
10:47getting underneath her, making it even difficult for her to square up.
10:51And she has been put through a different experience than she had in the first half.
10:57And quite rightly have gone back to harm because they need that experience and quality right now.
11:02It's now only 15.
11:03If they get this to 10, they don't have to do anything.
11:06If they get to 10 at the half, they'll consider themselves to the end of the quarter.
11:11They'll consider themselves right back in the game with a quarter to go.
11:15And just quietly, Villas rose up the scoring rankings.
11:2013 points now for the 21-year-old young gun.
11:26She gets to come off for a well-deserved break.
11:30Put the rotations after the bench in both areas of the floor on the perimeter and inside.
11:36They've got to pick up that change of momentum that the defense has caused.
11:41Got to play physically right now.
11:43Oh, it's a big three minutes for Italy.
11:46Can they get the margin back within reach?
11:50Or can China get back to their first quarter form?
11:55Santucci comes away with it.
11:57Double-teamed, has to get it away.
11:59She double-dribbles.
12:03It's not what you want if you're an Italian fan.
12:08To be fair to the Chinese, it was a great defensive play.
12:11They saw her in the quarter near the halfway line.
12:13And they're just stepping up.
12:15Make sure that they really made it difficult.
12:18Li Yuan really made that turnover happen.
12:25Li Yuan hasn't seen the ball before she went out, before the rotation, and since she came back on the
12:31loss.
12:31Hasn't touched the basketball for a little while.
12:35And that's not good for China.
12:36She really does need to be involved.
12:39She needs to get touches.
12:45And to carry on that thing, this is when China have to smile.
12:49This is when China have to play without belief that they had when it was going well.
12:52They have to.
12:52Do not change that style.
12:54Do not change that tempo in a tougher situation.
13:03It's a 48-35.
13:06Three minutes remaining in the third term.
13:09Italy have outscored China.
13:1014 points to 8 in this third quarter.
13:15Wang.
13:16On the move.
13:18Han.
13:19Collided into it by three different Italian players.
13:23It was so important that she got a touch.
13:25I mean, they threw it in the pass, had to be on the money because the defensive rotation was good.
13:30The help side was stepping in.
13:32Watch, the help side comes in a little late.
13:34Contact on it.
13:35But the most important thing is she got a touch.
13:37And she needs another one.
13:39And she needs a lot of touches just to maintain where they were before.
13:44Young.
13:46Goes inboard.
13:47Shrugs off Zandalasini with ease.
13:51That's sweet.
13:52That's a sweet move.
13:55A hundred percent agree.
13:59Takes a tally up to 12 points for the game now.
14:01Young Shuyu.
14:05Zandalasini.
14:06She's been huge for Italy.
14:09Verona.
14:12Dishes it off to Pan on the one leg.
14:16They get it back through Andre.
14:18The offensive rebounds.
14:23Zandalasini.
14:24Four on the shot clock.
14:26Steps back on Young.
14:28He's got the foul call.
14:30China number six.
14:32Young Shuyu.
14:33Third personal.
14:35Third foul.
14:36Also the third team foul.
14:39Third foul on Young Shuyu.
14:45And Zandalasini has a chance to get her 11th and 12th points if she's good enough on the line.
14:54Just to see how much actual real contact there was because Zandalasini with that lean back step back.
15:01Most of the impetus for her to go backwards was her own.
15:11She's coming off 14 points and seven boards against the USA last night.
15:16Average is 16.5 points for the tournament.
15:20Two points.
15:21She's on 12.
15:24She comes off for a break.
15:26The Italian fans are beginning to rise out of their seats.
15:31Big finish coming up to this term.
15:34A big finish coming up to this game.
15:35We thank you for joining us for China versus Italy at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
15:47Lee.
15:50Trusted point guard in this team.
15:52Rises above the defence.
15:58No one came to it.
16:02Pasa now for Italy.
16:04No Zandalasini on the floor.
16:06No Villa on the floor.
16:08Let's see what Verona and the like can produce.
16:11Khan on her own.
16:12Goes for it.
16:13Gets it.
16:19Big moment for Francesca Pan and Italy.
16:24Down by 12 now.
16:26Can they get it to that achievable 10 point margin where anything can happen?
16:33Lee.
16:34Can she get back to back baskets?
16:36It gets slapped away.
16:37She just manages to get it back.
16:39The shot clock goes down.
16:42Verona escapes with it.
16:44What can Italy do here?
16:46Khan.
16:47Does she go for back-to-back triples?
16:49It gets passed off.
16:50They take a breather.
16:53Under a minute left.
16:56Pasa.
16:57A bit of a tired shot in the end.
17:02And now China can re-extend their lead.
17:09Khan all on her own.
17:10She loves the three-ball hard shoe.
17:18She's done it all.
17:21And I'm sure she'll continue to do it all in the fourth as well.
17:26She wants to guide her team to a win here.
17:28But Blasig has something to say about that.
17:34High tempo to finish this quarter.
17:37Five seconds remaining for Wang.
17:39Does she beat the buzzer?
17:41Andre beats her instead.
17:48So 1.4 for China.
17:49I can see Chung running.
17:52Chung's coming.
17:53They're going to go to that lob again where she just holds the space.
18:00Let's see if she can get it and add to her points tally.
18:03She's got eight for the game.
18:09A lot of push and shove as we expected as soon as Chung comes back on.
18:15They go to Hart instead.
18:16It gets cut off by Verona.
18:19So no chance for China to add to their points tally.
18:23A good response from Italy.
18:25Can they keep it going?
18:26Can they complete an awesome comeback win?
18:29Or can China finish second in their group?
18:33Leading 55 to Italy.
18:3542 at the end of the third quarter.
18:43So a big response from Italy.
18:46And the stats will show they've gone more to the two-point.
18:49They've gone more on the inside.
18:50And look at that.
18:51It's worked.
18:52Yeah.
18:52I mean, they haven't shot the three-ball well, as we said before, in any game.
18:56Let alone this one.
18:58They've just been the aggressor.
18:59The number of times they've broken down, pulled up, got to the ring.
19:02And defensively, they've just done more.
19:05They've been able to score out of their defence.
19:08You know, it's still a big, big ask to come back from 20 at the half.
19:12But they've got themselves in the same...
19:14They've got the same...
19:15They're in the same neighbourhood score-wise right now.
19:18They start well to the fourth.
19:20If they're under ten with five to go, they're right in the game.
19:23And that sounds achievable then, just to get to under ten in the first five minutes of the fourth.
19:29Then they've got a chance.
19:30Then China are looking over their shoulder.
19:33China are worried about the circumstance.
19:35In that first half, they didn't have to worry about anything.
19:40What do you think happened to China there in that quarter?
19:42No, I do think it's what happened to Italy.
19:44I think Italy picked up their defence.
19:46I think there was the play where they went away from the straight curl against the high screen.
19:52And then she turned it over.
19:54Summed it up.
19:55They took away a cut that China wanted to make and they started to do that and that then asks
20:00China to make decisions.
20:01You can scare the QR code on your screen to access courtside 1891, your home of streams for the 2026
20:09FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, 2027 men's qualifiers and more.
20:14So you can see the points by Korda, Italy outscored in the first, started easing the margin in the second
20:21and then in the third.
20:22They got right on top, 21 points to 15, but it's still a 13 point margin in this game.
20:28It's all for Italy to do in this last 10 minutes.
20:34Four quarter on the way.
20:36China's points are drawn down every quarter.
20:38They get it going down again.
20:40Then all of a sudden, they only have to score 21-22 to get back in the game.
20:44Whoa, sinew, that's the start they would have wanted.
20:48And again, that excitement on the bench is great to see.
20:56That's a nice move, though, go to zones.
20:59It means they can get Zhang into the game and Zhang and find her ways to contribute.
21:04They just gave up a wide open 14-footer, though, so maybe it's not the best night for them.
21:11Nice move by Villa, though.
21:13And it gets swatted away.
21:15Oh, and it was a heavy foul by Pazza.
21:21And Paul Wang has taken a few heavy hits today.
21:29Interestingly, China have started with Zhang and no Zandalicini for Italy.
21:32Well, no, I think that it'll start with to see if he can get some points out of Zhang
21:37and then he's obviously going to go back to Hansel, finishing close out the game.
21:41I think the Zandalicini scenario will be you sit down for a couple, you get in the game.
21:46If we get back in it, you stay.
21:47And if it goes away, that'll be her fun for the game.
21:54Here is one.
21:58One way, then the other, then to Tang.
22:01Can't finish off the play, but gets a chance to earn a point at the stripe.
22:06Okay, they made the three off of what they run in the half court on their first offensive possession.
22:11Since that, even that wasn't the normal smoothness they had in the first half and in part early in the
22:18third.
22:18Because it was almost a frantic pass.
22:20She wasn't ready to receive it.
22:22It was a crazy foul.
22:23They should have let her miss the shot because she wasn't making that.
22:29Third point of the game for Tang.
22:33I'm loving the shooting action.
22:42Goes two from two, does the job.
22:44A little bit of small ball by China.
22:46We haven't seen the small ball line up this night.
22:48Maybe they want to get a little bit more active defensively.
22:52Good thing to try when you're about to play Puerto Rico as well.
23:01Andre scripts it in.
23:02Very nice by the captain.
23:05Old school.
23:06Old school hook shot.
23:07Love it.
23:09Really strong move to the middle.
23:12See the differential in points for China.
23:15Forty in the first half.
23:16Twenty so far in the second.
23:19Conventional scores have gone down quarter by quarter.
23:23They're feeling the pressure now.
23:25The shot clock's down to two.
23:26Who better than Young Shuyu to beat it?
23:31Why would Italy not switch that with that less time?
23:35With that small amount of time on the clock?
23:38You can't give them that much time.
23:40Communicate and deal with the problem.
23:45Can to Blasie.
23:48She goes for the three.
23:53Maybe a China ball.
23:56China ball.
23:59Substitution.
24:01Perfect execution from Young.
24:05Right at the top of the three-point line.
24:08That is sweet.
24:09Sweet.
24:11Sweet.
24:13Two hearts back.
24:14If you're a Chinese fan, you're like, at last.
24:17At last, she's back.
24:20Get her the ball.
24:21Let her play.
24:25She's not going to back here.
24:30I just love the fact that they're always being the aggressor this evening.
24:36Always.
24:37They're not backing down.
24:38They're not trying to just settle for the shot.
24:40They're taking it out of defense.
24:42Pulling fouls.
24:44Not settling.
24:46I know they're being pushed now by Italy, which is not a bad thing.
24:52Khan with a hand in her face.
24:55Oh, yeah.
24:56Count that, she says.
25:01That's a back triples for China.
25:03And all of a sudden, the lead is back out to 20.
25:08They found their rhythm again.
25:10Italy on the back foot.
25:13Villa can't go over the top of Young.
25:15There's no way she can do that.
25:18Young, too classy.
25:24Wang.
25:26Looking for an option.
25:28Found Shan, but it got ripped away from her.
25:32Paza.
25:33Has to slow things up.
25:39Villa.
25:40Can she make amends for her last shot attempt?
25:42She just throws away the pass.
25:44And guess who it is?
25:46Young Shuyu.
25:50Hard foul by Andre.
25:55Yeah, the shape that they had in the transition.
25:59Leaving the middle open for Zuhatsu.
26:00Get to the front of the ring.
26:02That's not.
26:03That's how they want to run their break.
26:05Again, such.
26:07It is a really, really positive performance.
26:10They've even weathered the storm of the Italian run.
26:13Now it's time for the Graffiti Camp.
26:15Good signs for them to come.
26:17As it stands right now,
26:20they get to play Puerto Rico,
26:22who finished third in Group C.
26:26Hello, you're in the Graffiti Camp.
26:28Yeah.
26:29And you can see all the faces of tournament basketball,
26:32the FIBA Women's World Cup.
26:35All the emotions.
26:37And the next one, hello.
26:38None more so than Andrea Capobianco,
26:40who's been displaying emotions all throughout the tournament.
26:47Here's how it sits for China.
26:49They've got 66 points today.
26:51Their average is 67.5.
26:55They've just come out alive and they've looked like a new team.
26:59Stories are a bit different for Italy.
27:0146 points today.
27:02The average is 57.5.
27:05They haven't shot well from the three-point line all tournament.
27:09The rebounds have been pretty okay.
27:11So, definitely some work to do
27:15before they presumably take on Australia,
27:18if it stays the way it is.
27:19Where are you?
27:23It just underlines the issue that
27:27they're going to have for the rest of the tournament,
27:28their inability to score.
27:30You know, you said 57 points they're averaging,
27:33but they're not that far off.
27:34You know, 46, they're not far off.
27:36They've just given up 66.
27:38A 66 that's going to grow to something around 80 points.
27:44So, Yang Shuyue,
27:46getting herself involved in the game.
27:49Each quarter,
27:50just when you think she's down and out,
27:52she keeps producing.
27:56An underrated hero of this team.
27:59Chun.
28:01Good work there by Italy,
28:03but Verona just stepped out of bounds.
28:10They just have to work hard for every single point.
28:16China haven't made it easy for them at all.
28:29They've got it out of Hans' reach for the moment.
28:32Is he a show, though,
28:33in this part of the game,
28:35in this third quarter,
28:36they can establish that defensive effort.
28:39They're showing it now
28:40in out-of-bounds places
28:41where they're denying passes,
28:42getting deflections.
28:43They just haven't done it for enough time.
28:45They've dug a hole,
28:46and they just haven't done it
28:47enough time throughout the game.
28:51It's a great assist from Yang Lord.
28:53Just couldn't finish it off.
28:56Oh, Verona behind the back.
29:18It's been hard work for Lorela Qubai
29:23in this game.
29:24Yes, Italy.
29:26Defending Han and then Zhang.
29:29Trying to get points of her own.
29:31Her team's down.
29:32It's not easy.
29:33That sounds like a nightmare
29:35you've just written script for.
29:38She'll go to sleep tonight
29:40and be blocked
29:40on the way through.
29:42She'll be seeing Zhang's shadow
29:44as she tries to get to sleep.
29:49And unfortunately,
29:50there's no day off,
29:52so it's not like
29:53they've got time to recover.
29:56It's a tough schedule this part,
29:57but we're going to go
29:58three days solid.
29:59Yeah.
30:00And knockouts from here on,
30:02like you mentioned.
30:03No second chances.
30:05Young.
30:07This time it fell short.
30:10You can admire Lore's hustle.
30:12Yep.
30:13Even at this
30:14right late stage of the game.
30:16The Italian ball.
30:21Faces of the Italian players
30:23show it hasn't quite been their night.
30:26Nice.
30:28Great crowd in again
30:30to see this game.
30:3866 to 47.
30:39Five and a half minutes
30:40left in this game.
30:44Perona.
30:46Zandolozini
30:47goes for it.
30:49Not quite the shot
30:51she would have wanted.
30:54Young with her signature pace.
30:57The goal finds its way to law.
31:04Young again.
31:07Wang all on her own.
31:11Can't skip back in.
31:15Even just that following through
31:17on her own shot
31:17has been the theme of the night.
31:19They're working hard for each other.
31:21They're working hard for themselves.
31:24They've really transformed
31:25their tournament.
31:25Yeah.
31:26Well we said right
31:27first possession of the game
31:28they've got an offensive rebound
31:29and made a three
31:30off the recovery of that.
31:31And that has been the
31:33story of the way they've played.
31:41Tries to get around
31:42Han Shun.
31:43Not an easy task
31:44but she did it well.
31:54Long's played some nice minutes this game.
31:58Only had the three rebounds
31:59against Czechia.
32:01Three points sorry.
32:03Two rebounds.
32:10And they just can't keep their hands
32:12off her at the moment.
32:13Italy number eight
32:14Costanza Verona.
32:16First personal foul.
32:18First personal foul.
32:21Two shots.
32:22So Italy in the bonus now.
32:24China will go to the free throw line.
32:26A few more times you sense
32:28in this remaining four minutes
32:30of the game.
32:38Long of course
32:39a sign with Australia.
32:42So there's a wave of
32:43Chinese players
32:45coming down under.
32:48Han Shun also there.
32:51Chun Mingling.
32:53It's a great place
32:54for Chinese players to play right?
32:55There's big Chinese communities
32:57as the league is a good league.
32:59So it's good for the league
33:00to get that extra
33:01different type of player
33:02in the league do you think?
33:04For sure.
33:05I mean there's a lot of
33:07American imports
33:08that have come and gone
33:09but I think China
33:10not only boosts the league
33:12with the type of players
33:13they bring in
33:14but also the fans
33:15that come as well.
33:16I mean it's a big boost
33:17for the whole Australian league
33:19to have lots of fans
33:20packing up the arenas
33:21and just a new sense
33:22of fans as well
33:23because at the end of the day
33:25basketball is a global game
33:26you want to take it
33:27around the world
33:27and what a great opportunity
33:29for Australia's league
33:30the WNBL to do that.
33:36Mariela Santucci
33:37has had a tough run
33:38this game.
33:40As has a few
33:41of her teammates.
33:46One is just a workhorse.
33:56very nice.
33:57Very nice.
34:02It's just a matter of who else
34:04wants to get involved now.
34:05No, it's still
34:08it's playing harder.
34:10They can't play as hard
34:12as they would normally play
34:13I don't think
34:13because of the circumstances
34:14of the game
34:15but with them playing hard
34:17they've actually taken China
34:18a little bit out of their rhythm
34:20but China have found
34:21the impressive thing
34:22is they've found a way
34:23to get back
34:23to what they want to run.
34:25Okay, again
34:26they've turned it over
34:27that's
34:28they've done a really nice job
34:30of weathering that storm
34:31re-establishing themselves
34:33at the defensive end
34:34to make it hard for Italy
34:35and get back into the rhythm.
34:37That's as much of a good thing
34:39as the good start is.
34:40They've managed to be confident
34:42and not
34:42almost just protect
34:44what they had.
34:45It's a really impressive performance
34:47on the
34:48the round before
34:50the knockout stages.
34:53It's the perfect warm-up
34:54for a knockout game, right?
34:56This is more valuable
34:57than any training session
34:58they've practiced
34:59their good offense
35:00they've had good defense
35:01they've got out to a lead
35:02they've come back
35:03from being down.
35:05And what coach will want
35:06assuming that they hold
35:07them to this win
35:08and they play
35:08Puerto Rico
35:09he'll want this same level
35:11into that game
35:12that's got to be
35:13how they play.
35:15You know
35:15they'll start favorites
35:16against Puerto Rico
35:17that's not a done deal
35:18they'll just start the favorite.
35:21If they play like this
35:22they're going to be
35:23a handful for anybody
35:24they become another team
35:25that we're talking about here
35:26as other teams
35:27really get into rhythm
35:28about who could be
35:29in with the opportunity
35:31to make it to the semi-finals
35:33make it to a championship game.
35:37And of course
35:37one thing they've got to remember
35:38it's similar to
35:39the game against Czechia
35:40they started favorites
35:41in that one
35:42you'd say
35:43and then
35:44Czechia pushed it
35:45the game went to overtime
35:46so
35:47they've always
35:48they've got to be
35:48a little bit weary as well
35:49there'll be a few tired bodies
35:51of course
35:51after today
35:52likewise for Czechia
35:53of course
35:53they're playing against
35:54the USA right now
35:55so
35:58and Puerto Rico
35:59obviously had the tough
36:00games today
36:00against Turkey
36:01so
36:05lot to think about
36:06but they could take
36:07a lot of positives
36:08from this performance
36:09heaps of positives
36:14you would hope
36:15though
36:15wouldn't you
36:15that
36:16the tiredness
36:17is not going to be a factor
36:18when you're in the
36:19elimination game
36:19for the World Cup
36:20you know
36:21you're going to
36:21find a way to get ready
36:22to play the game
36:26Hans seems like
36:27she's never tired
36:28exactly
36:30she was born ready to play
36:38and this team's had a good amount of years together
36:42good practice games as well
36:44good hit outs
36:45even against Italy as well
36:46actually in those practice games
36:57I just wonder if they can get back to that silver medal form
37:01that they had in 2022
37:03we know the other contenders
37:05obviously USA is in big contention for that trophy
37:09but France has been impressive
37:11Spain have been impressive
37:13I wonder where they sort of rank
37:16among those heavy hitters
37:17you could put maybe Australia in that category as well
37:21Belgium
37:21god you can't keep them away
37:23I mean it's going to be so tight at the top this year
37:30well the four group winners obviously
37:32they're going to go straight to the pool of wine
37:33and get that added
37:34added advantage of the day off
37:36the extra day off
37:38and that's going to help
37:39although if they've come here a little undercut
37:42if you get through that elimination game
37:44the extra game could help you
37:45you know you've had another tough game
37:47as long as physically you're able to absorb that
37:503,120 basketball fans here
37:55in the final game
37:56in the maximum
37:58in answer to your question
37:59are they going to get to that
38:00sort of second runner-up status
38:02well if they play like they played in the first half
38:10third foul for John
38:15it brings Jasmine Keyes to the line
38:23still yet to register a point this game
38:30coming off four points against the USA yesterday
38:35first four points of the game for it
38:37I think she's got two things around the ring
38:40and then we just didn't see her
38:41it was a bit bizarre
38:42yeah she has that role
38:44yeah she has that role
38:44where you know one or two players
38:45on the second Italian team are
38:46literally playing the role of playing hard
38:48at the defensive end
38:53speaking of playing hard
38:54that's been China's theme
38:55all throughout the game
38:58shot clock ticks down
39:06but still smiling
39:08still appreciating all their efforts
39:10and confirmed
39:12a double-double for Han Shu
39:1419 points
39:15and 10 rebounds
39:17a walking double-double at this rate
39:20oh yeah
39:20well she's averaging a double-double
39:22isn't she
39:23you know across three games
39:25so only the great Zheng Hai Sha
39:28has had three double-doubles in a row
39:30and now Han
39:32joins that famous name
39:34in Chinese folklore
39:36tonight
39:41pretty good comparison
39:45you take that
39:46pretty good
39:47yeah
39:47we'll take pretty good on that one
39:52fortunately not pretty good for
39:54substitution China
39:55no but I think
39:59he's been
39:59he's been in the
40:00he's been a very experienced coach
40:01he's been around in these
40:02type tournaments
40:03in many many many
40:06situations
40:06he'll know how to deal with this
40:08he'll know that
40:09they won't be motivating to play Australia
40:12he won't dwell on this
40:14that's the worst thing they could do
40:16learn from it
40:17yes
40:17dwell on it
40:18no
40:20and in some ways
40:22why did we lose
40:23we keep teams to low numbers
40:25we win games in the 60s
40:27we let a team get to 70 points
40:29we let a team score 40 and a half
40:32we still got
40:33we got close to our number
40:34our offense is what it is
40:36it's the defense
40:37that's the big drop-off
40:38after the game they had last night
40:40and they just started flat
40:42and then personal pride kicked in
40:44and they played harder in the second half
40:46super fast
40:47wow
40:48instant impact
40:54got on the receiving end of a fantastic pass
40:59as you mentioned Mark
41:02they're going to have to just put this one away
41:04and say
41:05yep we were bad at that
41:07we are going to be better
41:08when we play Australia
41:10and that starts from the minute this game ends
41:18here's one
41:19Han
41:20three doubles
41:22doubles in a row
41:25she continues to guide this team
41:30Chan
41:33Santucci
41:34clock ticks down to 20 seconds remaining
41:37it's a 20 point margin
41:39at the moment
41:40unless Italy has something to say about that
41:44but Chan
41:45able to complete it
41:47is there another
41:47set of points here
41:49who soon
41:50or maybe Han
41:53they deserve to hold the ball at the end
41:56it's Chyna with a big win
41:58to finish second
42:00in their group
42:02and book in
42:04a date with Puerto Rico
42:06for a chance to advance
42:08to the quarterfinals
42:09the final score here in Berlin
42:12is Chyna
42:1271
42:13defeating Italy
42:1551
42:20confirmation that Italy
42:21finish third
42:22in the group
42:23they will go on to face Australia
42:25for a chance
42:26to make the quarterfinals
42:29I'm going to go on to face
Comments