China Dominates Venezuela at U17 World Cup
China secured a commanding 84-63 victory over Venezuela at the FIBA U17 World Cup, powered by a decisive second-half surge.
In this tournament clash, Venezuela held a slim one-point lead at halftime, 40-39, but the momentum dramatically shifted after the break. China unleashed a 24-11 run in the third quarter to seize a 12-point advantage (63-51) entering the final period, ultimately extending their lead to 21 by the final buzzer. The Chinese offense clicked at an impressive 56% from the field (30/54) and 40% from beyond the arc (10/25), a stark contrast to Venezuela's 39% shooting. China's bench also provided a crucial spark, outscoring Venezuela's reserves 27-14.
Yuxiu Chen orchestrated the offense with 18 points and 7 assists for China, complemented by Yizhaojie Zhang's 15 points and 7 rebounds. For Venezuela, Julio Vasquez fought valiantly with 23 points, while Kevin Gutierrez recorded a double-double, contributing 11 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort.
This dominant second-half performance serves as a strong statement for China early in the tournament.