The second stage of the 2024-25 CBA regular season continued with a focus on the intense match between the strong Shandong men's basketball team away and the traditional powerhouse Xinjiang men's basketball team. Ultimately, Shandong won a hard-fought victory over Xinjiang with a score of 111-107, thanks to the outstanding performances of key players such as Yu Dehao, Gao Shiyan, Guo Kai, and Chris. Notably, Shandong faced multiple unfavorable "controversial calls" from the referees during crucial moments, but Qiu Biao still led the team to victory. This win not only ended Xinjiang's undefeated home record but also solidified Shandong's position among the championship contenders.
In this game, Shandong almost exhausted all their resources. Despite key players like Chris, Gaili, and Guo Kai being fouled out, Yu Dehao hit three crucial three-pointers against his former team in the final quarter, helping Shandong secure the win with Moore's relentless three-point shots. During the decisive moments, Guo Kai's steal was met with a fatal "controversial call," allowing Xinjiang two valuable free throws while Guo Kai, who had an excellent game, was unfairly fouled out without committing any fouls. Additionally, Tao Hanlin, Shandong's main inside player, was repeatedly fouled without receiving any calls, forcing Shandong to accept "turnovers" and lose possession. Moreover, Shandong, including Gaili, did not receive additional free throws for several clear 2+1 plays.
Despite these extremely "unfavorable" circumstances, even facing what could be described as "5 against 8," Shandong managed to explode and win away at Xinjiang, impressing fans of CBA teams. It can be said that, based on this game's refereeing, even top teams like Guangsha, Liaoning, Guangdong, the well-stocked Xinjiang, and the dark horse Shanxi would struggle to guarantee a win. However, Qiu Biao provided Shandong with absolute stability, enabling the key players to remain calm and execute the team's tactics at a higher quality, ultimately achieving a perfect outcome.
For Shandong, this victory marks the end of their inability to perform under pressure or in adverse situations. Under Qiu Biao's leadership, Shandong can now consistently defeat teams weaker than themselves and compete with championship contenders in critical moments. Perhaps this game is the beginning of Shandong showcasing their "championship potential," making them a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Especially after this intense and brutal regular-season game, Shandong is bound to undergo a transformation. Judging from this game alone, Shandong may even possess more tenacity than deep-rooted teams like Liaoning, Guangdong, Xiamen, and Beijing.
In conclusion, following this highly anticipated and pivotal battle, Shandong's ability to handle tough games seems to have finally been honed. In the future, Qiu Biao will lead this dark horse team to officially challenge for the CBA championship, and Shandong will formally aim for a top-four playoff spot in the league.