- 2 months ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00School China coach, of course, Bong Lu Min, a two-time Asia Cup trophy winner with his team, an Olympian
00:08as well as a player.
00:12So a big battle tonight between China and Italy.
00:15We welcome you to the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup battle between these two sides in Berlin.
00:21The winner finishes second in their group and faces Puerto Rico.
00:26The losing team, they finish third and they face Australia.
00:30Whoa, gets China off to the perfect start.
00:34I tell you, the really pleasing thing for China was their work on the offensive glass because they outworked Italy.
00:40If they do that, there is only one winner if they outworked the Italians.
00:46Villa had a fantastic game last night, as did Zambalacini.
00:50Everybody's talked about her.
00:53Keys with the good start last night.
00:55Kubai can't get them off to a good start too much.
01:01And allows Jack to get moving.
01:05Yang Shuyu, one of the most popular members of this Chinese national team.
01:11She glides her way through to China's second basket of the game.
01:16Wow.
01:16How easy against the team that keeps people.
01:20They give the US to 55.
01:22They gave up a wide open line.
01:24That's not Italian basketball at all.
01:28Here is Kubai.
01:30So the three isn't quite working for her to start this one.
01:33And it's interesting to see her take the threes, giving her inside presence.
01:39Here's Yang.
01:40Made it look so easy.
01:41No one came.
01:42No one came to help.
01:43No one came to challenge.
01:45Unopposed layup.
01:465-0 start.
01:47China looking very, very positive.
01:51Han has barely touched it.
01:52That's the scary thing for Italy.
01:56Zhang, very capable point guard in this Chinese team.
02:00Han Shui with three seconds on the shot clock.
02:04It's good defense by Kubai.
02:05She's got a big job ahead of her today.
02:07As Verona picks up the pace for Italy.
02:11Zandalasini.
02:15Oh, just a bit too aggressive there.
02:20I don't mind the aggression defensively for China.
02:25I think that they've got to.
02:26You know, Lao's got to do a little bit on Zandalasini like that.
02:29Take her out of that comfort zone.
02:30Make her work.
02:31Play through contact.
02:35Here's Verona again.
02:37You sense she'll have a key role to play tonight.
02:39As will Cecilia Zandalasini.
02:42Pre-book for Italy.
02:45Cecilia Zandalasini.
02:47Of course it's her to kick off the scoring for Italy.
02:51And pick up where she left off last night.
02:54An inspiring performance against the USA.
02:57It wasn't enough to get the win.
02:59But she'll be just as hungry tonight.
03:02Yang Shui-yu.
03:02She's off to a hot start.
03:04It's so China.
03:06China.
03:07Yang Shui-yu.
03:12Eight points to three to start this one.
03:17Say the beautiful release from Yang Shui-yu.
03:22Up to five points already.
03:27Yeah, Verona's got, took a blow during the action.
03:31And I think she just needs someone to check her out as much as anything else.
03:36I don't think she's going to be gone for long.
03:38No.
03:40One of the toughest players out there, Costanza Verona.
03:44She's going to have to go to the locker room.
03:46So I'm not really.
03:49That could even be contact lenses.
03:51It looked something along those lines.
03:55Jasmine Keys wants to find her fellow big in cool buy, but it didn't work out on that occasion.
04:03It's actually the Chinese defense that's disrupting Italy as opposed to the other way around.
04:07Eight points in three minutes for China is a super start.
04:11They've been a bit slow in all of their previous games, getting out of the block in the first quarter.
04:16So it's a really positive start for them.
04:19Beating them at their own game so far.
04:22As Chun looks for an option, finds Zhang.
04:26Han Shui puts the ball on the floor.
04:30Rises over the top and makes it look completely easy.
04:34Smooth.
04:35Straight a little separation.
04:37High release.
04:38Not blockable.
04:39Not by anybody in a white uniform.
04:43Zandla Zini.
04:47Cool buy.
04:52Shot clock.
04:54Down.
04:55Reset.
04:56Anyway, we get the rebound.
04:59There's a problem with the 24-second clock.
05:02I noticed that.
05:04From 7 all of a sudden it's 24.
05:09A great start.
05:10This Chinese team.
05:12And Italy look a bit shell-shocked.
05:14Well, it's so easy.
05:16They finished late last night.
05:17They've got the late game again.
05:18So they've had all day.
05:21They look flat.
05:23They look a little bit slower.
05:26No one can blame them for that.
05:28What they've got to do is get out of that place very quickly.
05:30Otherwise, this game will be gone.
05:32Because one of the things they don't do is score points in a hurry.
05:35So if they end up in a hole 10, 12, 15 down too early, it's a long road back for
05:41them.
05:46Both teams buoyed by a great crowd here.
05:496.35 for 21 seconds on the shot clock.
05:52So we've got the shot clock issues fixed.
05:55And China are ready to return to action.
05:59Young again.
06:01Not the same result this time.
06:03Keys and Zendelazini fought for it.
06:05Now Villa.
06:10So crafty, Mathilde Villa.
06:12Still working on Zhang.
06:14And that's a really tough shot.
06:17And that's why they need someone to make plays like that.
06:20To break them out of this malaise, really.
06:23There's no way I can describe how they look.
06:25There is that physicality defensively.
06:30Here's Young.
06:31She's got the hot hand for the Chinese team so far.
06:34Ah, Khan always looks good.
06:36Just that time fell a bit short.
06:40And a chance for Kaza to make some impact.
06:47Villa.
06:48Can she go back to back?
06:51Khan collected it easily.
06:55Young off and running.
06:59Oh, beautiful dish.
07:01Khan says, thank you very much.
07:04And how aggressive have China been?
07:08They have been so positive offensively.
07:11Maybe the tournament starts for them today in the way that they're going to approach this.
07:15Because they've been so much more positive than they've been in any other game so far.
07:18Oh.
07:20Denial there by Khan.
07:22It's ominous signs for Italy.
07:26Doohan just gives you so many things, doesn't she?
07:28So good as Khan.
07:29Xander Bassini down the lane, you know, it's far side of the ring, she'll get it away.
07:34But Khan just challenged it and took it away.
07:39So reliable and you're right.
07:41She doesn't get enough credit for what she does.
07:43She's a generational player.
07:47Here she is again.
07:49Again fed by Young.
07:50And it's the same result.
07:52And it props an early timeout for Italy.
07:58They're down 14 points to five.
08:01Halfway through the quarter.
08:03Here's the work of Young and Khan making a great team.
08:10Very impressive start for this Chinese team.
08:13I'm sure Angelo Capobianco will have plenty to say.
08:38One and two times we're gonna get caught.
08:39Problema è che we're sotto.
08:41Però se come ha fatto Cokka, che spinge e riesce a passare, non serve a meno.
08:46Il problema è la decisiona con cui entriamo.
08:48In attacco, attacchiamo un deciso per segnare.
08:53Attacchiamo un deciso.
09:04All right, for me, Julia, it's China have just been very aggressive, have challenged the defense.
09:12When they've run the pick and roll, they've been aggressive coming off the pick and roll.
09:15The whole tempo of the Chinese offense has been quicker.
09:19And Italy have had to rely on one or two individual moments offensively.
09:23The great three from the corner, the little pull-up.
09:26It's very slow. It's a little flat.
09:28They haven't managed to get China into situations where they're chasing on long closeouts.
09:34It's just an impressive Chinese start.
09:36I think that's the problem.
09:38China is just playing very well.
09:40The boost for Italy is that Verona is back on after I think it was a poke in the eye
09:44on a previous play.
09:47They'll definitely need her presence.
09:49They're a chance of pegging this margin back early in the game.
09:57So, Young with the foul.
10:00Five points for her already in this game.
10:03Han with the six.
10:07Verona now for Ili.
10:11Very nice jumper.
10:13So much better on the screen.
10:15The screen was better.
10:16She got a little separated from it on the screen.
10:19Gave herself enough time.
10:21That's very much...
10:22That's what we've seen from Italy throughout the competition so far.
10:27Han.
10:32They work it around.
10:35Four seconds.
10:36She's got to release it.
10:37Han instead goes to Lohr who puts the ball on the floor and just gets it up in time.
10:41That's better pressure from Italy.
10:43Han's got to shoot the three.
10:44She's a good three-point shooter.
10:48He's under Lazzini.
10:53He's going to get that one to go.
10:56Let's see what Haram can do on this offensive set.
11:00Young might take it all the way herself.
11:02She gets fouled on the way through.
11:06There's a concern I have.
11:07China have come out of that fight now and they've gone a little soft.
11:11They've gone a little while.
11:12We'll just run our sets as opposed to execute our sets.
11:17No better way to get out of that funk than to bring on...
11:22Zhang Ziyu, the young sensation.
11:25And then the experience as well of Wang Ziyu, the point guard who we know has carried this team
11:33for so many years.
11:35I think it's a good sub from Ngong Lumi.
11:39Well, I think what the option they have now is that they bring in the experience
11:44and they bring in the just...
11:46Well, she is a generational player.
11:48She is a game changer.
11:49She's had, I think, an incredible World Cup so far.
11:55She needs touches though.
11:57On the inside, she'll need touches early to make her presence known
12:00and they're going to go to that.
12:01I've seen four players playing defence around her.
12:07Oh, they just put White...
12:09Sorry, White weren't on the same page.
12:13Lohr and Zhang.
12:14It gives Italy another chance here.
12:18Madeira on the floor.
12:20Dishes it back to Blasig.
12:21Good effort from Lohr.
12:23And the shot clock runs out.
12:30It's an interesting...
12:31The way they structure the zone around her is it's built for her.
12:36You know, they can extend because if you penetrate past,
12:39she's going to go and challenge a shot.
12:41It protects her a lot.
12:42So it's a nice adaption.
12:45You'd love her to get an early touch this time down the floor.
12:48Make Italy worry about how they're going to guard her.
12:51They are certainly looking in her direction.
12:57So right now, pretty stagnant.
13:00Here she is.
13:01Zhang Zulyu getting past Kubai and getting her first poise just like that.
13:06Wow.
13:07How good.
13:09Footwork great.
13:10High release.
13:11Super little baby type jump hook.
13:16I just love that her biggest supporter is Han.
13:18She was cheering louder than anyone.
13:22They have such a good bond, those two.
13:26Haza.
13:28Zhang.
13:31Now the experience of Wang.
13:34Down the floor for China.
13:37Up against Pazza.
13:40Zhang again.
13:42Just puts it up.
13:44Oh, knocks it down again.
13:46Wow.
13:47I was just about, I was thinking,
13:49oh, she doesn't need to catch it that far away.
13:52She's got great touch.
13:53You'd like to see her catch it deeper,
13:55but wow, what a start.
13:58Yeah, this is getting ugly for Italy.
13:59They need to respond quickly.
14:03Kubai goes around.
14:04Madera takes the three.
14:07And Zhang's just going to clean that up every single day.
14:12China needs to be relentless right now.
14:14They need to build on this low-key start by Italy.
14:20Well, Zhang's been fantastic.
14:22She's set the tempo.
14:23Here's Zhang.
14:24Can she get three in a row?
14:25This time, dishes it out, but not far enough.
14:28Verona is able to pick it off before she got fouled by Yang.
14:32That's Yang Shui's second foul.
14:39And here's the work of Zhang.
14:41Just unstoppable.
14:42Kubai was, I don't know, tippy-toes trying to defend her.
14:46She's just too strong and too powerful.
14:49And like I mentioned, just the smile of Han.
14:53And the first of the couple of Bianco emotions comes out tonight as well.
15:02So a few fresh legs on the floor for both teams.
15:08Andre and Pan try to work together.
15:13The shot clock resets.
15:15La Sigue.
15:16Three's not quite working for them.
15:18They try to get the offensive rebound, but it's kicked off by one.
15:23And the foul slowed her down.
15:29Chinese bench is a bit animated about the 24 reset.
15:32That's why they're asking.
15:33Yeah, I was questioning that too.
15:36I mean, ultimately it didn't hurt,
15:39but they're still going to make the point
15:41because they don't want that mistake to be made again.
15:46And I suppose the only interpretation was
15:48by having two hands on it and trying to make the pass in,
15:50that actually was a change of possession.
15:54Here's Tang.
15:59Minute left.
16:01China have been electric to start this one.
16:04The crowd getting involved.
16:05Zhang getting involved.
16:06Over the top of Andre.
16:07Very easy as you like.
16:10The thing that Italy, quite surprisingly, aren't doing
16:14is they're not physically trying to walk through.
16:17Zhang, they're not going at her.
16:19They're just sort of putting their body.
16:20It's not enough.
16:21You can't just play her in a normal type.
16:23Well, you've literally got to do what the Americans did,
16:25which is, I thought, illegal,
16:27but they went straight through her.
16:29Certainly pushed her around that day.
16:32Verona.
16:33Again, the free ball not working for Italy.
16:38And China get another opportunity to extend their lead.
16:41It's 21 to 7 at the moment.
16:43Zhang's got the last three baskets.
16:46And along with two free throws from Yang,
16:48it's an 8-0 run.
16:50And there she is again,
16:51over the top of Andre this time.
16:53China.
16:54That's a great rotation as well by China.
16:57Bring Haan back.
16:5718,1 seconds.
16:59And it's 1.5.
17:01Sit down.
17:03Zhang Ziyu.
17:04Sit it down because she's done great.
17:06She's changed the nature of the whole game.
17:08But Haan was already being good.
17:10Keep her fresh.
17:11And Italy must be thinking,
17:12well, they've got to find a way to change.
17:15Change them.
17:16It's not about anything technical here.
17:18The physicality that was there last night
17:20is just not there at all.
17:23Zhang.
17:26And look at the celebrations for China
17:29as Wong beats the buzzer,
17:31completing the perfect quarter
17:34for her national team.
17:37At the end of the first quarter,
17:39it's China 23,
17:40leading Italy 7.
17:46It was a comprehensive performance
17:48from China to start this game.
17:51And the stats back that up, Mark.
17:5413%,
17:541 from 8 to 3.
17:55They're having to settle for threes, though.
17:57Yeah.
17:58They haven't moved it to try and create.
18:00The 1-3 was a Xandavacini one from the corner.
18:02Offered really nice penetration
18:03that sucked the defense in.
18:05Everything else has been,
18:06oh, we can't go inside.
18:08We all put up the three.
18:10I mean, but right from the first possession,
18:12China were aggressive on the glass.
18:14Aggressive going to the ring.
18:16Then they found Zuhan.
18:18That's a Chinese team
18:21that came here to be second.
18:24And that's their best start
18:26by a long way
18:27in this World Cup.
18:30It's almost as I say,
18:31they've qualified.
18:33They'll get the easier
18:35in their minds
18:36playoff games
18:36to get to the quarterfinals.
18:39and a motivated China
18:40and the way they play there
18:42is going to be a matchup
18:43for anybody.
18:45There's just not been
18:46the pressure, has there?
18:47That's the last play
18:48was a great example.
18:50That is just too easy.
18:51No one bumped too hard
18:53on the penetration.
18:54No one had a hand up
18:54on the ball.
18:56And in the end,
18:57then,
18:59Zangzi Yu came in
19:00and it was like,
19:00oh,
19:02she does what a lot of
19:03big players don't do
19:04at a young age.
19:05She doesn't have to rush
19:06because she's not going
19:07to get blocked.
19:08So she gets solid
19:09and takes the shot
19:10she wants to take.
19:11You can scan the QR code
19:13on your screen
19:14to access courtside
19:151891.
19:17You can watch live streams
19:18of the FIBA Women's Basketball
19:19World Cup 2026,
19:212027 World Cup qualifiers
19:23and much, much more
19:24while you're at it.
19:26So a big response
19:27required here from Italy.
19:29They were so gallant
19:30in defeat last night.
19:37They've got it all
19:38to do here.
19:3923-7.
19:41They trail early on
19:42in this game.
19:44Second quarter tipping off
19:46here in Berlin.
19:50Andre,
19:51can she get her team off
19:52to a good start?
19:53The captain
19:55quite on that occasion.
19:59Yeah, it's a travel.
20:03Got to start somewhere.
20:05Even if it wasn't a travel,
20:06it looked like a travel.
20:06Yeah.
20:13So Santucci on the floor
20:14for her first minutes.
20:18Just keeps it in.
20:22And one.
20:24Gets on the move again.
20:27They seem to be fouling her a lot.
20:29Trying to stop her run
20:30down the court.
20:31Daniela Santucci,
20:32first personal.
20:33The first foul.
20:35First machine foul.
20:35The only way they can stop
20:36China's run at the moment.
20:37Substitution.
20:39Spielerwechsel.
20:40Italia.
20:41Straight away,
20:41Zander Lazzini
20:42comes straight back
20:44onto the floor.
20:45Victoria Placique
20:46takes a seat.
20:47Caviar Bianco is looking for combinations now.
20:50He's desperately trying to find someone,
20:53some combination,
20:54that's going to pick up the intensity level
20:56and start to work.
21:00Han did really well to keep it in.
21:04And again, Wong.
21:07There's a great picture there of who goes to get it,
21:12throws it back into court.
21:14Four white shirts, one red shirt, one red shirt gets it.
21:16Pretty much sums up the whole of that first quarter.
21:20Pretty much sums up where Italy are.
21:23Substitution.
21:24Somewhere in that coaching head of Coach Cambiangio
21:28is going to be,
21:29who's the players in practice?
21:31Who are the girls in practice
21:33that are the people who just will play hard?
21:36Who've got the dog,
21:37who've got the fight.
21:38This isn't a technical situation for him at all.
21:43Here's Law through the corner.
21:50I think that, you know,
21:52it's, there's so many moments
21:53just summing up where they are.
21:58I mean, it could be that Zandalosini gets going
22:00and finds, makes a couple of plays,
22:03but it's down this end of the floor,
22:04the defensive end,
22:05and he's going to do something now
22:06because he's that type of coach
22:08to generate a response from his team.
22:14Just when he's about to form a response,
22:17Zhang replaces Han.
22:22Zhang with the six points for the game.
22:25Han also with six.
22:28Straight away, she's in the action.
22:30Looking for someone to help her out, though.
22:32Just didn't quite get it off in time.
22:34Shot clock violation.
22:36Italy ball.
22:39Let's Italy get it back here.
22:42Substitution.
22:42China.
22:44The team's yet to score.
22:46He just, he just brought
22:50Zhang Ziyu in for the play.
22:52He tried to get something off the end line.
22:57So Han out there defending Zandalosini.
23:05Zandalosini, she got over the top,
23:07but just didn't quite get the desired result
23:09with the shot.
23:10Pastina this time hustles on the offensive end.
23:12Han, the three hasn't worked.
23:15It's still not quite going in for them.
23:19They've attempted more threes than twos.
23:22Zuhan.
23:23Defense with that,
23:24at that size,
23:25that length,
23:26and that on Zandalosini.
23:28Pretty special the way she played defense then.
23:30A lateral speed.
23:32Excellent.
23:33A physicality.
23:34Great.
23:35She's rolling here.
23:38Passed it off to Lorch.
23:39She's still free,
23:40but unfortunately Lorch.
23:42She still didn't quite have the awareness
23:43about the shot clock there.
23:44No score.
23:47It's a pretty good defensive effort from Italy.
23:49They've just got to turn it into offense.
23:51One step at a time.
23:53You're absolutely right.
23:54They're actually,
23:54the last few possessions,
23:55they've matched anything that's trying to go.
23:57But China have gone very dribbled.
23:59Earlier in the game,
24:00it was pass,
24:01roll,
24:02actually inside,
24:03outside.
24:04The last possessions have all been dribble,
24:07and Italy have actually contained them.
24:10They've brought Young on,
24:11who's a known scorer.
24:13Had a great start to this game already.
24:15Villa.
24:17Goes out.
24:18And there is Young.
24:20Right in the action early.
24:23Sprinting down the court.
24:24Can she go on her own?
24:26No.
24:26Just too much Italian.
24:28There are a million players in front of her.
24:37And again,
24:38an offensive play.
24:41Young replaces Haag.
24:43I mean, Italy,
24:44three from 18 from the floor.
24:47I know throughout this World Cup,
24:49they've struggled a little bit offensively,
24:51but three from 18,
24:52the team that kept the USA to a three-point game,
24:55a mental reaction was going to happen,
24:57but to this extent,
24:59someone's got to get them out of this.
25:01Might even be a hard foul.
25:02It's got to be something that changes the way the game is being played.
25:06Here she goes.
25:07Job,
25:07Zuyu.
25:08Zuyu.
25:09Wow.
25:11Just wow.
25:12It's just...
25:15You can just hear the crowd rise.
25:17Every time she gets the ball in her hair,
25:18you just know something's going to happen.
25:22So exciting.
25:23Great prospect.
25:24Here she is defensively.
25:26They are.
25:27Pan.
25:28Brave to go over the top of her.
25:30Did so successfully.
25:37Here's Tang.
25:39Gets swatted away from her.
25:45Along with all the experience.
25:47Goes herself.
25:49And it rolls in.
25:53Sometimes it's much overtook.
25:54This Chinese team is enjoying itself at the moment.
25:59Just looking at the bench,
26:00it's infectious.
26:01Just jumping out of their seats for every basket,
26:04every defensive stop,
26:05and every block,
26:07just like Zhang did there.
26:11And another basket for China.
26:14This time Tang gets involved off the one assist,
26:18and it's a 20-point lead all of a sudden.
26:24Fast break basketball by China.
26:27Blocked shots,
26:28running the floor,
26:29taking it to the hole strong.
26:31We haven't said that about him in any game so far.
26:33This is a real attitude change
26:37by the Chinese national team.
26:40You can see a coach couple.
26:42Bianco calling a timeout.
26:43We'll head in there now
26:44to see what he has to say.
27:12Hello, it's you on the screen.
27:18There's a group of players and a coach
27:20desperately trying to find out,
27:22desperately trying to work out
27:23why they are where they are.
27:27He's challenging them.
27:28They're actually,
27:29they're coming back.
27:32It's frustration throughout the whole timeout.
27:36He's got the play that he thinks is the best play.
27:38He's got the way of getting the ball
27:39to Zander Nassini
27:40with a little bit of advantage.
27:42I mean, there's the Zang Nang's numbers.
27:46Average is eight.
27:47He's got eight already.
27:49Wow.
27:49Scary.
27:51Hasn't missed a shot yet.
27:53Everything's been like this in her time.
27:57And she,
27:59you saw her against the USA
28:01in the first game.
28:02It was a trial.
28:03It's early now.
28:03Yeah, she's smiling.
28:04She's in the,
28:05she's in a great place.
28:08So good to see.
28:10Especially if you're a Chinese basketball fan.
28:14Three on the shot clock.
28:15Villa's got to go.
28:19Chyla again.
28:20Come up with it.
28:24Chang.
28:28Chang.
28:30Potentially to another.
28:31No, she wants to go herself.
28:33And why not?
28:34But you can do that.
28:36Chang Yu-ji.
28:38Chang Yu-ji gets herself involved in the game.
28:42She's in the game.
28:47Fasina.
28:54Villa.
28:57Again, the shot clock ticking down.
29:00It's all in her hands.
29:04And now Han.
29:07One of the best players on the floor so far.
29:10It gets tapped away from a rear wing
29:12for Cicciolias under Lazzini.
29:15And she lays it in easily.
29:23Need a lot more of that.
29:27Finally, a double digits.
29:29Halfway through the second quarter.
29:35And the crowd up and about for China.
29:40They're loving what they're seeing so far.
29:44And Young beats the shot clock as much as ever.
29:50That's not settling for the jumper deep on the shot clock.
29:54It's been almost the statement they've made.
29:57Whether it's going inside to either of the bigs
30:00or whether it's the guards penetrating,
30:01they have not settled for jumpers late in the clock.
30:05They've been aggressive.
30:08So, the Lazzini was fouled on her shot attempts.
30:17She could have another chance
30:18at getting some much-needed points here for Italy.
30:23They've got to look at it.
30:24I know we're in the second quarter.
30:26I know it's like a long way to go.
30:28But they're going to do this in steps now.
30:29Get it under 20.
30:31They can get into the half under 20
30:33and, you know, get in some momentum.
30:35Then they'll have something to hang on to
30:37come the beginning of the third.
30:39If it gets bigger than this,
30:41I don't know.
30:41It's going to be a very, very long way back.
30:49Zander Lazzini so far with the five points.
30:52The tie's gone.
30:54That's a start for Kapo Bianco.
31:02Ever so slightly.
31:04Italy cut back the margin.
31:10Yan.
31:12She's been the star of the show so far
31:15as she just puts on the Jets.
31:18Deserves a finish.
31:21Zander Lazzini rescued it
31:23and then got found again.
31:27Kapo Bianco arguing
31:28the case for unsportsmanlike.
31:32We all know that they're trying to stop the ball.
31:35Everyone knows, but they do it in the way
31:37that means it's not unsportsmanlike.
31:39Correct.
31:39They got back.
31:40They were face-on.
31:41They made a genuine play for the ball
31:43even though they had no chance of getting it.
31:46Whether you like the rule
31:47or don't like the rule,
31:48that's the rule.
31:50He's got to try something, I guess.
31:52Exactly.
31:52Well, I don't think he'll mind
31:54if he gets a technique.
31:55We can't get any worse for it all.
31:58Villa puts a smile on the faces
32:00of the Italians in the arena.
32:06One positive they can take out of their tournament so far
32:09has been the fall of Matilda Villa.
32:12Coming back from an ACL injury
32:14and shining on the world stage.
32:17Young, again, just too good.
32:22It's all to the hoop, it's all.
32:24He's taking it straight at Italy.
32:27Nothing is settling.
32:30He's taking their time on the shot clock,
32:33finding the right look,
32:34and Young has often been the one to complete the job.
32:49Young with 10 points in the game.
32:55Just as active as they are on offense
32:57as they are on defense.
32:59Sorry, but it's like three red shirts.
33:02Move the ball,
33:03gives Andalacini some space to play.
33:07It's that issue about them not assisting each other,
33:09not moving the ball.
33:11Oh, just quite one.
33:15They weren't on the same page at all then.
33:18And Maza gets a rare open layup.
33:22Takes advantage of the mistake.
33:27Margin back to 20.
33:31Char now.
33:37Han.
33:38Han.
33:39The moneymaker.
33:41Goes in again.
33:42This time a bit short,
33:43but guess who?
33:44It's Hanshu.
33:54It's Italy scoring a bit more in this corner,
33:56but China is still motoring ahead.
34:04Han.
34:06Young again.
34:10The activity to scramble defensively
34:13is absolutely out of the top draw.
34:17Han turns and shoots.
34:19Oh, she's so classy.
34:21Wow, wow, wow.
34:24Don't you just love watching her go to work?
34:26Oh, absolutely.
34:30I've seen China play a lot.
34:32I've seen them win Asia Cups and things like that.
34:34I don't think I've ever seen a Chinese team
34:35come out this positively,
34:37this aggressively,
34:38this high,
34:39this motivated,
34:40this all that upbeat stuff
34:41that sometimes you think,
34:42where is it?
34:46Whatever they had
34:47for their evening,
34:48their three-game milk,
34:49I want time.
34:51Yeah, we need someone out.
34:55Here's Jan.
34:56On for a quick burst.
34:59And Hart takes a well-deserved rest.
35:02Ten points already today.
35:04She's three rebounds off a double-double.
35:06It's just,
35:07that sums up how good she's been.
35:09Both ends of the floor.
35:10A defensive effort
35:11has been phenomenal
35:12the way she has challenged shots.
35:14She's three rebounds.
35:20Villa misses the first one.
35:24Coming off six points
35:26and five rebounds
35:27against the USA.
35:33And Verona will come on
35:35to replace her.
35:40He's also back out there.
35:44And Li Yuan
35:45on for her first minutes
35:46for China.
35:51Zhang open.
35:53Double-teamed.
35:55Dished it out to Jha
35:56in the nick of time.
36:02Didn't quite work
36:03for China
36:04on that occasion.
36:09Well,
36:10this will be interesting
36:11for China.
36:11The double-team,
36:12the Italians
36:13throwing it at them
36:14for the first time.
36:15I think just needs
36:17to catch the ball
36:18deep.
36:18So she just has
36:19to turn and score.
36:20The double-team
36:20won't be an issue then.
36:26Verona.
36:28Zandolozini.
36:32Oh, nice work,
36:33Costanza Verona.
36:35That's better.
36:35There's going to be a win.
36:41They haven't gone to the three
36:42as much in this quarter.
36:43Italy,
36:43they've worked it out.
36:45Need to go in board.
36:49under a minute remaining in this opening half what more can China do
36:54Zhang free Zhang shooting just missing this time
37:00the desperation wasn't enough as Zander Lazzini comes away with it
37:04Pazza off and running this is a good finish from Italy
37:07a better event to take it to half time
37:14the shot clock turns off for Li Wang
37:18is it one last basket for Zhang for the first half
37:22or can Yang Shuyu add to her poise telly perhaps
37:26here is Zhang
37:28gets tapped away from her good defence from Italy
37:33and the shot clock
37:35the clock overall runs out of time for China
37:39but a clinical first half performance
37:41a scene that opened up a very sizable