Sure, here's the rewritten passage in an entertaining style, with reversed order and some synonyms:
On July 24, 2025, in Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, the friendly match between China and Venezuela ended with an impressive 77-49 victory for China, widening the gap to 28 points. This victory seemed flawless on the surface, leaving no room for the opponents and boasting impressive stats. However, the real intrigue lies in the details behind the game and Zhao Rui's post-match remarks.
The game started slow for the Chinese team. In the first five minutes, they struggled, hitting only 1 out of 7 shots, finding it hard to break the ice. It was Wang Junjie who came off the bench and nailed the first three-pointer of the game, finally breaking the deadlock. Following him, Cheng Shuai Peng took charge, scoring 8 points in a single quarter, ending the first quarter with China leading 18-13. In the second quarter, Zhao Rui began to dominate, securing the advantage with two three-pointers, igniting the team's momentum. By halftime, China led by 15 points, and the outcome of the game seemed almost certain.
In the second half, China picked up the pace. Zhao Rui and Hu Mingxuan launched from beyond the arc, while Hu Jinqiu and Yu Jiahao alternated attacks under the basket, gradually widening the score gap. By the end of the third quarter, China was ahead by 23 points, and the final quarter turned into a full practice session as Guo Shiqiang made extensive substitutions, providing opportunities for young players.
Zhao Rui's performance was undoubtedly a highlight of the game. In just 13 minutes, he efficiently scored 11 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, and made 1 steal, shooting an impressive 75rom beyond the arc with 4 out of 4 three-pointers. His two crucial three-pointers in the second quarter boosted morale and reassured his teammates. He excelled on both ends of the court, particularly disrupting the opponents' offense with active defense, making it difficult for their guards.
However, Zhao Rui's performance was not flawless. In his short time on the court, he committed 4 turnovers and 2 fouls, showing signs of impatience at times. After the game, he candidly pointed out team issues—despite the large margin of victory, the offense lacked sharpness, starting slowly, and the coordination seemed a bit rusty, even struggling to inbound the ball at times. Zhao Rui acknowledged that these issues were natural during recovery from injuries and in team integration, viewing them as opportunities for improvement.
As for the opponents, Venezuela, ranked 25th in the world, fielded mainly young players in this match, with a mediocre performance from beyond the three-point line, shooting only 3 out of 18, with a poor accuracy of less than 17%. They displayed active rebounding and defensive counterattacks, but overall, they were no match for the incomplete Chinese team. In fact, from the beginning of the second quarter, the outcome of the game was hardly in doubt, with the remaining time used by the Chinese team for tactical drills and team building.
However, many fans in the stands and on social media were skeptical. Some seasoned fans outright stated that such opponents were inferior to mid-to-lower tier Chinese Basketball Association teams, questioning the significance of such a warm-up match. Several basketball commentators also felt that the lack of opponent pressure might actually mask the Chinese team's own issues, particularly their defense, which showed lapses in some sequences. These weaknesses could be magnified in tougher matches.
Post-game discussions were lively. Zhao Huanyu bluntly remarked that Zhao Rui did not exert his full effort in this match, asserting his status as the unparalleled guard of the Chinese national team. Head coach Guo Shiqiang also publicly praised Zhao Rui's value, indicating that his playing time would be carefully managed based on his physical recovery. Fans are eagerly anticipating Zhao Rui's continued recovery but are also concerned that if the issues of slow starts, turnovers, and coordination exposed in warm-up matches are not promptly addressed, they could pose problems in facing stronger opponents at the Asian Cup.
One thing is certain: Zhao Rui has not only regained his form but also shown courage in speaking the truth. He is now not just the core of the team on both offense and defense but also its spiritual leader. The key to whether the Chinese national team can advance far in the Asian Cup lies in how these shortcomings are addressed in the next three warm-up matches. What are your thoughts on this?
