20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 cap, the individual scored a new high this season. It is hard to imagine that this is the performance of a 36-year-old veteran in the first game of the finals of the Chinese men’s basketball professional league (CBA) in the 2022-2023 season, while the Liaoning team captain Han Dejun did it.
In the first game of the finals, Han Dejun performed the back pass to complete the assist; With his excellent performance at both ends of attack and defense, it was difficult for Zhejiang team to take an absolute advantage in the internal line.
“We are still in the final stage, and some old players have played a very important role, not only in this game, but also in the whole playoff, they have played a very stable role.” Yang Ming, head coach of Liaoning team, said after the first game of the finals, “their experience, execution and clarity in the finals played a decisive role in the trend of the game. I would like to express my gratitude to them and hope (they) can play an important role in the next game.”
The old members of the Liaoning team did not disappoint Yang Ming’s trust. In the second game of the finals, 32-year-old Li Xiaoxu played for more than 40 minutes, winning the most 15 rebounds in the team, including 7 key front-court rebounds, with positive and negative values being the highest positive 25 in the game. The Liaoning team won 17 opponents (51:34) in the rebound in this game, which became the key to winning.
From the battle between the two sides to the fourth quarter, the Zhejiang team was only 6 points behind. After that, foreign aid Fuge jumped shot, Han Dejun sent out the cover, Li Xiaoxu got the second attack, and it took less than 1 minute. Liaoning team expanded the score difference to 10 points again, the total age of the three people participating in the above attack and defense has exceeded 100 years old.
Less than 3 minutes after the end of the game on the spot, Li Xiaoxu scored a three-point goal in the bottom corner of his life to lock the victory for the Liaoning team. Li Xiaoxu, who hit three points, nodded resolutely and shouted loudly to cheer for himself. Yang Ming, a former teammate and current coach, stood by the court to celebrate for him. This season is already li Xiaoxu’s 18th season.
What is little known is that Li Xiaoxu was injured in that game. Yang Ming revealed for the first time after winning the championship that Li Xiaoxu had torn fractures in his hands after the first game of the finals. “These old players are sticking to it with serious injuries”.
“The competitive state depends on training, not support. First of all, these excellent old players can maintain such a high level of competitive state, which is obtained through hard training. They control their bodies, the degree of self-discipline is very admirable.” Yang Ming said after the second game, “these old players are very difficult, giving up a lot and carrying a lot.”
“His (Han Dejun) age and injury situation are still competing with the young center of the other side on the court, which shows that our old players have a strong desire to win, including attacking and defending both ends, the role of the inner hub is also very obvious.” Yang Ming said.
In the key third game, Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu both had positive and negative values of positive 25, and Han Dejun took the most 10 rebounds in the game. The “second senior” of Liaoning team once again proved its value with spare no effort to compete and experience in the finals.
“This season, both myself and the team have experienced some twists and turns and problems, but the result is relatively good and I feel very surprised.” Li Xiaoxu said after the team won the championship, “although I am getting older and have experienced more injuries these years, this year’s physical recovery is the best in recent years, which has added a lot of confidence to me.”
Throughout the playoffs, as long as Han Dejun and Li Xiaoxu play, every goal must be fought and defense is the label of the two. As Yang Ming said, the old team members played a “very critical role” in the Liaoning team “.
In the last two games of the semi-finals, Li Xiaoxu, who had suffered too much injury in his career, stepped forward and contributed 31 points and 22 rebounds in the 77-minute playing time of the two games; in the fifth game, it was Li Xiaoxu’s key dunking that locked the victory for the Liaoning team. This veteran explained his desire for victory with his actions.
Zhao Jiwei, the most valuable player in the finals, also paid tribute to them. “These veterans are not easy and have been sticking to the Liaoning team”.
Blood forever, fight forever-this is the “champion’s heart!
(WEN/Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Bowen, Cao Yibo)