Du Feng, head coach of the Guangdong Southern Tigers, shared his thoughts ahead of the decisive Game 3 against the Beijing Ducks. He emphasized the team’s determination to compete hard against Beijing, noting that securing the win in Game 2 was a tough task for such a young squad. He praised the players’ execution and their ability to handle pressure in the toughest moments, urging them to continue fighting.
Guangdong barely escaped Game 2 with a last-second buzzer-beater, leaving little margin for error. The spotlight will be on Quain and Zhang Haojia, but Du Feng stressed that other key players like Xu Jie, the big foreigner, Cui Yongxi, and McCall must also step up offensively. Otherwise, the team’s firepower will be too limited, which is a major concern for Guangdong.
Du Feng also highlighted the growth of his young roster, saying: “From the three games against Guangzhou to these two against Beijing, we’ve seen our young players take responsibility and mature. That’s the real asset and foundation for the team’s future. I hope they continue to uphold this tradition.”
However, it’s worth noting that many of the players on the team are no longer rookies—they’ve been playing in the CBA for years and are quite experienced. Still, Du Feng hopes that Zhang Haojia and Du Runwang can carry over their strong performance from Game 2 and provide consistent outside shooting. Maintaining defensive intensity is also crucial, especially given Beijing’s deep roster.
On Quain, who erupted in Game 2, Du Feng acknowledged: “Beijing will have targeted defensive schemes. Each game in the series requires adjustments.” Indeed, Guangdong relied heavily on Quain’s outburst to survive the previous game, especially in crunch time. But Quain is known as a streaky player—once the opponent focuses on him, his form may fluctuate. That’s a risk for Guangdong. Whether he can deliver tonight remains to be seen, and the team also needs McCall to contribute on both ends of the floor.
