Stunning Upset! China Falls to Korea—3 Players Go Invisible, Fans Urge Guo Shiqiang to Recall Two Stars

China’s men’s basketball team suffered a stunning upset against Korea, and in this matchup, three players were virtually invisible on the court—contributing almost nothing to the team’s effort. Some fans have even urged head coach Guo Shiqiang to urgently recall two key players in response.

Going into the game, expectations were sky-high. Many believed a win for China was almost a certainty. After all, the roster had just been reinforced, with major contributors Zhou Qi, Zeng Fanbo, and Zhang Zhenlin returning. Plus, China had already defeated Korea at the Asian Cup. On paper, victory looked like it was already secured.

But reality took a different turn. From start to finish, China lagged behind. At one point, the team trailed by as many as 18 points. Although the players surged with effort in the later stages, they still fell short by four points, suffering an unexpected and frustrating loss to open their World Cup qualifying campaign.

So, where did things fall apart? Many point to the disappointing performance of three players who seemed to disappear on the floor. The first was starting point guard Gao Shiyan. With Zhao Rui sidelined by injury, Guo Shiqiang entrusted Gao with the offense—but he simply couldn’t deliver. His contribution was virtually nonexistent, recording 0 points and 0 assists in the first half. For a lead guard, that stat line speaks volumes.

Then there was Hu Mingxuan, normally a reliable scoring threat. But in this game, he had no rhythm and no presence on offense, going 0 for 4 from the field and scoring only 2 points from free throws. For someone expected to be a major scoring engine, this was far below standard.

Finally, there’s Wang Lanqin. His inclusion in the national team was already debated by fans, as he isn’t even a core player for Liaoning. That doubt was amplified when he took the floor—he contributed nothing and finished the game scoreless. Many fans are baffled as to what role he was supposed to play in this squad.

With the rematch against Korea coming just three days later—and this time on the road—concern is growing. Another loss, some fans warn, could even jeopardize Guo Shiqiang’s coaching position.

In response, supporters have suggested two additions. The first is Xu Jie from Guangdong. With him managing the offense, China’s playmaking and ball distribution would almost certainly stabilize, and his own scoring ability could provide a needed spark.

The second is Zhao Rui. Even though he’s dealing with a minor thigh strain, fans hope that for the sake of national pride and victory, he might push through and suit up. Many believe that with Xu Jie and Zhao Rui back on the floor, China’s chances of beating Korea would increase dramatically.

And honestly—aren’t the fans onto something?