Shenzhen Marco Polo Secures Franchise-Record 12th Straight Win in Gritty Victory Over Jiangsu Kendia

SHENZHEN, China — In a game that tested their resolve as much as their talent, the Shenzhen Marco Polo basketball club fended off a late surge from Jiangsu Kendia to secure a 93-88 victory on Saturday, April 11. The win, captured at the Longgang Dayun Center, marks a historic milestone for the organization, extending their winning streak to 12 games—a new franchise record.

The victory does more than just rewrite the record books. it solidifies Shenzhen’s grip on third place in the CBA regular season standings as the league approaches the postseason. However, the scoreline belies a frantic finish that nearly saw a dominant lead evaporate in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

A Tale of Two Halves: Dominance and Danger

For much of the contest, Shenzhen appeared to be in complete control. Leveraging a high-powered individual offensive attack, the home side built a commanding 22-point lead. The crowd at the Longgang Dayun Center was electric as Shenzhen seemed destined for a blowout victory.

But the momentum shifted violently in the second half. Jiangsu Kendia, displaying remarkable resilience, began chipping away at the lead. The gap narrowed steadily, and with just one minute remaining on the clock, the lead had shrunk to a precarious three points. The tension in the arena peaked as Jiangsu threatened to pull off one of the most improbable comebacks of the season.

The game was ultimately decided by the individual brilliance of Tequavion Smith. With the game hanging in the balance during the final 60 seconds, Smith stepped up to score four critical points, halting Jiangsu’s momentum and sealing the win for the home side.

By the Numbers: Individual Brilliance vs. Team Fluidity

The box score reveals a stark contrast between individual scoring efficiency and overall team cohesion. Shenzhen relied heavily on their stars to carry the load, while their ball movement plummeted in the closing stages.

• Tequavion Smith: The focal point of the offense, Smith finished with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
• He Xining: Provided essential secondary scoring with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
• Wang Haoran: Anchored the interior with 20 points and 8 rebounds.
• Aliz Johnson: Contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

On the opposing side, Jiangsu Kendia was led by Felon Hunter, who posted 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Harry Gyles, who added 20 points and 12 rebounds. Pang Zhenglin also played a pivotal role for Jiangsu, contributing 16 points and 8 assists.

Despite the loss, Jiangsu outperformed Shenzhen in terms of ball movement. While Shenzhen averaged 22.2 assists per game this season, they managed only nine assists in this contest—including a staggering zero assists in the fourth quarter. In contrast, Jiangsu recorded 18 assists, outplaying Shenzhen in cohesive play despite the final result.

Coaching Adjustments and Roster Struggles

Shenzhen head coach Zheng Yonggang was candid about the difficulties his squad faced. The team entered the game shorthanded, with key player Johnson sidelined by injury and veteran Zhou Peng resting. These absences forced Zheng to shuffle his rotation, moving the young Tequavion Smith into the starting lineup and activating Sun Haoqin and Wu Zihan.

Zheng noted that these changes led to a “sluggish” transition game and a lack of fluidity in the team’s overall coordination. The reliance on individual isolation plays—rather than the structured team offense Shenzhen is known for—explained why the assist numbers were so low and why the lead became vulnerable in the final minutes.

Still, Zheng expressed satisfaction with the team’s mental toughness. He highlighted the improved chemistry in key defensive stretches and praised the players’ ability to step up when the game entered the “clutch” phase.

Strategic Implications

For the global observer, this game serves as a microcosm of Shenzhen’s current trajectory. They possess the raw talent and individual scoring power to dominate the league, but the recent lack of ball movement suggests a vulnerability that opposing teams may try to exploit in the playoffs. The “clunky” rotation mentioned by the coaching staff will need to be smoothed out if they intend to maintain their top-three seeding and make a deep run into the championship rounds.

For Jiangsu Kendia, the game proved they can compete with the league’s elite through disciplined passing and persistence, even if they lacked the late-game execution to close the deal.

Shenzhen Marco Polo will look to carry this momentum into their next scheduled regular-season appearance as they aim to enter the playoffs with the highest possible seed. Updates on the availability of Zhou Peng and the recovery of their injured roster will be critical storylines heading into the final stretch of the season.

Do you think Shenzhen’s reliance on individual scoring is a risk heading into the playoffs, or is their talent gap too wide for opponents to bridge? Let us know in the comments.