97-77! Zhou Peng knocks down his opponent with a punch! Netizens harshly criticize his sportsmanship.

At the 2025 China-Europe Men's Basketball Challenge in Shunde, the Guangdong National Games basketball team triumphed over the visiting Spanish Girona team with a score of 97-77.

During one Guangdong offensive possession, Girona’s number 14 player persistently interfered with Zhao Rui using small fouls and then engaged in a scuffle with Zhou Peng.

Zhou Peng refused to let it slide and, aiming to defend his younger teammate, stepped in as Zhao Rui’s stand-in and repeatedly punched Girona’s number 14 player until he fell.

However, netizens disapproved of Zhou Peng’s actions, considering the punches unnecessary and detrimental to his character. As the head coach of the Shenzhen team, he should pay more attention to his personal image. In the 24-25 season, Zhou Peng served as both player and head coach for Shenzhen, leading the team to a 17-29 record and missing the playoffs.

Although it was just a friendly match, both teams played aggressively. Zhao Rui had visible scratches on his face, but at 29 years old, he remained tolerant and avoided conflict with opponents. In contrast, 36-year-old Zhou Peng was still fiery and unyielding.

This year’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao National Games will be held from November 9th to 21st.Since it is hosted at home, the Guangdong team is going all out with a star-studded lineup determined to win the championship. Besides Zhao Rui and Zhou Peng, players like Xu Jie, Hu Mingxuan, Du Runwang, Shen Zijie, Jiao Boqiao, Wang Ruize, He Xining, Li Yanzhe, and Liu Chuanxing are also part of the squad.

As for Cui Yongxi, he will also represent Guangdong in the National Games but compete in the U22 category. This lower-intensity competition is ideal for him to regain form as he nears recovery from a left knee ACL tear.

After the National Games conclude, the Chinese men’s basketball team will immediately begin a new training camp,because from November 28th (home) to December 1st (away), they will face South Korea in two matches marking the start of the World Cup qualifiers, aiming to secure a spot after 27 years.Zhao Rui and Hu Mingxuan, who shone at this year’s Asian Cup, are guaranteed selections, while Cui Yongxi’s inclusion depends on his performance in the U22 team as a protégé of Guo Shiqiang.

Actually, for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Guo Shiqiang will have a deeper pool of players than at the Asian Cup, with Zhang Zhenlin and Zhou Qi among those returning.

So, let’s hope two victories will perfectly close out 2025.