BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China will aim to maintain focus throughout their upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers match against Japan, the team's head coach Guo Shiqiang said on Friday.
Having lost its away game 76-73 to Japan last February, the Chinese team will take on Japan again in Shenzhen next Thursday.
"Concentration and execution are really important, especially in the last two or three minutes of the match," said Guo, who had succeeded Aleksandar Djordjevic last June following China's lackluster performance under the guidance of the Serbian.
"Towards the end of the game, any mistake in the defense or the offense could be decisive and unaffordable," he emphasized.
Guo also urged his team to execute good teamwork to take the victory despite the missing of several regular starters including Yuki Kawamura to the squad of Japan.
"We need great team efforts to win. We need points in the paint, we need points from beyond the arch, and we need fast breaks," Guo added.
Guard Zhao Rui and center Zhou Qi have been named as captain and deputy captain of the Chinese team, who will also face Guam for its last qualifier match on February 23.
"I will do my utmost and try to set a good example for the young players in the team. Hopefully, we can do everything that the coach has told us to do to take the victory," Zhao said.
China ranked second behind Japan in Group C in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers with Guam and Mongolia placing third and fourth respectively ahead of the incoming matches.
Twenty-four teams are competing in six pools in the qualifiers with a total of 16 berths on offer. The top two finishers in each pool will advance to the FIBA Asia Cup with the third finishers going to the play-offs. ■
