CBA regular season- 6 players scored in double figures, Jilin defeated Fujian and won its first victory

On October 19, 2023, the third round of the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season took place, where the Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank team celebrated their first victory of the season with a 124-109 win over Fujian Jinjiang Cultural Tourism. This win also marked the first career victory for Jilin’s head coach, Zhong Cheng.

In the early moments of the game, Fujian took the lead with a score of 8-2. However, Jilin’s foreign player, Jones, scored seven consecutive points, helping to turn the game around. The first half concluded with Jilin leading by just one point, 66-65.

As the teams returned for the second half, Jilin increased its defensive intensity, leading Fujian by seven points at the end of the third quarter. In the final period, both teams’ foreign players engaged in a scoring duel, with Jones consistently finding success in one-on-one situations, while local players frequently contributed to scoring. The lead eventually stretched to double digits, allowing Jilin to secure a 15-point victory.

It’s notable that amid changes to the CBA foreign player policy, many teams this season have recruited four foreign players. However, Jilin opted to field just three, who collectively scored 67 points, closely matching Fujian’s four foreign players who totaled 68 points.

In terms of individual performances, both teams had six players scoring in double figures. Jones continued his strong performance from previous games, achieving an impressive triple-double with 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists. Newman added 22 points and Jiang Yuxing contributed 20 points for Jilin. On Fujian’s side, Joseph Young led the scoring with 29 points, followed by Zeng Lingxuan with 19 points and Kampa with 17 points.

After the game, Coach Zhong Cheng credited the victory to the team’s defense, emphasizing their determination on that end of the floor. He expressed optimism about maintaining this defensive intensity moving forward. Discussing Jones’s return to the team, Zhong stated, “His presence has been a great help; not only does he score on the court, but he also motivates the team off the court. He has truly become a valuable leader.”

Looking ahead, Jilin’s next matchup will be an away game against Jiangsu, who are currently on a three-game losing streak.