China Men’s Basketball Edges Netherlands 65-60 in Hard-Fought Friendly

HANGZHOU, China — The Chinese men’s national basketball team secured a narrow 65-60 victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday evening at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, improving to 2-0 in the 2026 China Men’s Basketball International Friendly Tournament. Guard Liao Sanning led all scorers with 21 points and 7 assists, delivering a clutch performance in the final minutes to seal the win.

Context and Tournament Background

The match was the second of three round-robin fixtures in the tournament, which also features Australia (FIBA Rank #6) and the Netherlands (FIBA Rank #51). China entered the game with momentum after a commanding 91-81 victory over Australia on June 21, a game in which forward Wang Junjie erupted for 23 points. The Netherlands, meanwhile, faced Australia on June 22 before meeting China on the final day of competition.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the venue — the AT Center Gymnasium — previously hosted basketball events during the Hangzhou Asian Games and has become a regular site for the national team’s warm-up fixtures.

Game Summary

China made a notable lineup change, inserting center Yang Hansen into the starting five for his first appearance with the national team in over a year. The first quarter was tightly contested, with the Netherlands holding a slim 22-20 lead. However, China’s defense stiffened in the second quarter, holding the Dutch to just 12 points while scoring 18 to take a 38-34 halftime advantage.

The third quarter proved difficult for China, as the offense stalled with only 9 points and multiple turnovers. Fortunately, the Netherlands could not fully capitalize, and China carried a narrow 47-46 lead into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Liao Sanning took over, scoring 8 points including four consecutive clutch baskets in the last minute to ice the game.

CCTV Sports provided full coverage of the match, which saw China hold the Netherlands to 60 points on the night.

Player Performances

Liao Sanning was the standout performer, recording a game-high 21 points along with 3 rebounds and 7 assists. His ability to drive to the basket and finish under pressure was the difference-maker in the closing stages. Guard Gao Shiyan contributed 13 points off the bench, providing a crucial scoring spark during the second quarter.

Zhu Junlong added 9 points and 4 rebounds with a steal, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Yang Hansen, making his return to the national team, played 25 minutes and finished with 7 points and 8 rebounds, as reported by Xinhua.

“It’s been over a year since I last played for the national team,” Yang said after the game, as reported by Xinhua. “I’m very happy to be back and to help the team win. Participating in this game also helps me improve.”

For the Netherlands, Sander Holland led with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Nathan Kuta and Troy Koehler each added 8 points.

Analysis and Implications

The victory extends China’s winning streak in the tournament to two games, building momentum ahead of upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Head coach Guo Shiqiang has been experimenting with different lineups, and the return of Yang Hansen adds valuable depth to the center position alongside Hu Jinqiu and Xu Xin.

However, the close scoreline against a lower-ranked opponent (Netherlands #51) highlighted areas requiring attention. China’s third-quarter offensive drought — scoring just 9 points with frequent turnovers — and general offensive inconsistency remain concerns. Additionally, the Netherlands did not field their full-strength roster, tempering expectations around the result.

As reported by Dongqiudi, China’s previous encounter with the Netherlands in 2025 ended with an 8-point victory, making this year’s 5-point margin a closer affair.

What’s Next

China’s preparation continues with a focus on the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, where the team will face Japan on July 3. The coaching staff will likely use the coming days to address offensive consistency and integrate returning players like Yang Hansen more fully into the system. Key questions remain about the availability of star center Zhou Qi and injured guard Zhao Jiwei, whose status will be crucial for the team’s prospects in upcoming international competitions.

With the friendly tournament now concluded, the team has nine days of rest and training before their next competitive test.