Liaoning Falls to Shenzhen; Yan Shouqi’s Struggles Spark Fan Backlash, Coach Yang Ming Praises Team Effort

On January 19, in a CBA clash at home, Liaoning Flying Leopards narrowly lost to Shenzhen 83-87, despite a strong start. The game was tightly contested across four quarters, but Liaoning struggled offensively in the second quarter, allowing Shenzhen to take the lead. In the final moments, He Xining stepped up with clutch points and free throws to seal the win.

Liaoning head coach Yang Ming praised his team’s overall effort, noting strong contributions in rebounds and assists: “We grabbed 38 rebounds, 11 more than the opponent, and tallied 20 assists. Minor errors and decision-making on key plays aside, I’m satisfied with the team’s fighting spirit.”

The spotlight, however, fell on Yan Shouqi (“Hand Emperor”), who struggled throughout the match. Playing 29 minutes, he shot 2/10 and finished with 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, a 20% field goal rate. In contrast, teammates Wells and Fu Hao scored 25 and 20 points, respectively. Fans criticized Yan’s decision-making and court awareness, questioning his value as a developing player.

Post-game reactions were heated: “Yan Shouqi ruins the team’s rhythm, cold shooting—why not give young players a chance?”, “Coach Yang should consider substitutions, players like Dai Yanlong or Li Huyi could be more effective”, “What is Yan Shouqi’s development value? Every time he’s on, the whole team’s tempo falls apart.”