A fiercely competitive Beijing derby turned into a one-sided affair, losing all its appeal. By the third quarter, it had become garbage time, and Beijing ultimately suffered a crushing defeat by 27 points, losing an important match.
In this game, Beijing was completely overwhelmed throughout, constantly chasing points without any real chance. By the third quarter, they collapsed, losing by 11 points in that quarter alone. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Xu Limin threw in the towel, withdrawing his starters and replacing them with substitutes, effectively conceding defeat. Such a performance truly chilled the hearts of Beijing fans. After the game, head coach Xu Limin was furious, harshly criticizing the team for not displaying the expected fighting spirit. He stated that the absolute strength between both sides was not significantly different; we mostly lost to ourselves. This is what I most want to change about the Beijing Shougang team. Without this change, no amount of recruitment will be effective; we will be vulnerable in the future.
Although the Beijing derby lacked appeal, the stadium was incredibly lively, with both sets of fans filling the stands and passionately cheering for their teams, chanting various slogans. Especially when Beijing was significantly behind, Beikong fans chanted a humiliating slogan, shouting "Replace Zhou Qi," to which Beijing fans responded with a five-word, domineering retort: "Zhou Qi is your father," which was quite amusing. Beikong's past performance did not measure up to Beijing's, and Beikong fans had been suppressed for too long. Now that they have the upper hand, they are fully releasing themselves. Although they are from the same city, they are at odds with each other, creating a very intense atmosphere.
Beijing played terribly in this match, losing by 27 points. Only three players scored in double digits, while the rest were single digits. In contrast to Xu Limin's dejected demeanor, Min Lulei was very pleased, claiming the game unfolded exactly as planned before the match. The morale of the Beijing team was truly poor, with a scattered mindset. Especially the top-paid player Zhou Qi became a slacker, wearing bizarre outfits on the sidelines, sporting a flashy hat, dressing up in a strange manner, and laughing heartily with teammate Zhu Yanshi outside the court, forming a stark contrast with the crushing defeat on the field. It's no wonder Beikong fans took the opportunity to shout the slogan "Replace Zhou Qi." What do you think?
