On the night of May 10, the Shenzhen Marco Polo team secured a hard-fought 95-91 road victory over Zhejiang in Game 2 of the CBA quarterfinals, completing a 2-0 series sweep and returning to the league’s final four for the first time in three years.
The triumph was the culmination of two seasons of struggle and quiet development. After missing the playoffs last year and facing heavy criticism, the Shenzhen organization chose not to rush changes but instead focused on refining its defensive schemes and half-court offense. The coaching staff methodically improved the team’s perimeter defense and set plays, while players shut out outside distractions to sharpen their skills through daily training.
This season, that patience paid off. Local star He Xining emerged as the league’s regular-season MVP and carried that form into the playoffs. In both quarterfinal games, he shouldered the scoring load with steady, aggressive performances that reaffirmed his elite status.
Yet Shenzhen is not a one-man show. The team boasts strong chemistry and unselfish play. In the decisive matchup against Zhejiang, Wang Haoran provided consistent scoring, Smith orchestrated the offense and defense, and every player committed to rebounding and ball movement on both ends. Their unity and two-way execution became the key to breaking through.
From the depths of a two-year slump to a return to the semifinals, Shenzhen has written a comeback story built on perseverance. The journey is far from over. They will face the winner of the Guangsha-Shanxi series in the next round. As head coach Zheng Yonggang put it after the game: “No matter who our opponent is, we won’t think too far ahead. We’ll stay united and take it one step at a time.”