China Dominates Cameroon Behind Zhang's Masterclass
Yizhaojie Zhang delivered a standout performance, scoring 23 points and dishing out 6 assists to guide the People's Republic of China to a commanding 90-72 triumph over Cameroon at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
China established control early, building a 13-point lead in the opening quarter and never looking back. They held a commanding 19-point advantage at halftime (50-31) and extended their lead to 24 points entering the final period (73-49).
China's depth proved crucial, with their bench outscoring Cameroon's 43-16. Despite Nolan Ngangmeni's game-high 23 points and Jason Essoua's double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, Cameroon couldn't match China's offensive firepower. Boxin Zhao anchored the defence with 6 blocks, while Ziyi Zhang added 17 points coming off the bench.
The Chinese team's cohesive effort, highlighted by 26 assists and 9 steals, stifled Cameroon, who committed 15 turnovers. This dominant display serves as a significant statement for China in the tournament.