16+5! Japanese Coach Comments on Liao Sanning! China's Top Penetrating Guard

A brilliant drive attracted three defenders, setting up Hu Jinqiu for a mid-range shot.

A strong and-one finish through contact against Japan's naturalized interior player.

A direct steal ignited a fast break for a solo layup.

He blew past his defender with one move and finished with a high floater.

He pump-faked his opponent off his feet and nailed the pull-up jumper.

In China's 87-80 comeback win over Japan, Liao Sanning played a pivotal role off the bench. In approximately 29 minutes, he shot 7-of-15 from the field, contributing a well-rounded stat line of 16 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal, with a plus/minus of +12 tied for the game-high.He relentlessly showcased his entire offensive arsenal (except the three-pointer), shredding the opponent's defense to pieces.

After the game, Japanese head coach Hachiya Dai commented on Liao Sanning, stating that when he isolates one-on-one, multiple defenders are needed to help and focus on containing him.

To put it bluntly, Liao Sanning (25) is currently the most offensively threatening guard in the Chinese men's basketball team. Given his impeccable and versatile ball-handling skills, trying to lock him down one-on-one is simply a pipe dream. If this player can develop a consistent shooting stroke in the future, his ceiling would be virtually limitless.

Throughout his CBA career so far, Liao Sanning has averaged 0.7 three-pointers per game at a 30.9% clip in the regular season, and 0.9 threes at 29.2% in the playoffs. His best season (24-25) saw him average 1.3 threes at 36% in the regular season and 1 three at 38.5% in the playoffs.

Looking ahead to the next game on March 1st in Manila, Philippines, where China faces Chinese Taipei, the 12-man roster remains unchanged, with Hu Mingxuan and Zhao Jiayi still not selected.

The referees for this high-profile match will hail from the Philippines, Australia, and Thailand.

The players Chinese Taipei must tightly defend are undoubtedly Chen Yingjun and Lin Tingqian, both CBA-produced All-Star guards whom we know inside out, along with their naturalized big man Gao Bokai, who dominated South Korea with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks.