Army Basketball Squad Stunned in 1968 Defeat
The match, played at the division's main parade ground camp, pitted heavily favored military players averaging over 1.85 meters in height against an academic squad averaging roughly 1.75 meters.
Height and Tactics on the Court
Prior to the opening whistle, onlookers anticipated a comfortable victory for the Seventh Division squad. The military team featured three players standing over 1.9 meters tall, including a point guard at 1.82 meters, alongside an institutional basketball tradition tracing back to the Eighth Route Army 120th Division basketball team. In contrast, the visiting team was composed of faculty members and professors who played during their leisure time.
Despite the substantial height disadvantage, the visitors utilized rapid passing sequences, disciplined court positioning, and flexible tactics to exploit defensive gaps. Meanwhile, the military players struggled with missed field goals and turnovers. As the deficit grew to double digits, crowd noise faded, and division leadership watched the final minutes unfold from the sidelines.
Division Commander Orders Squad to Reconnaissance Duty
Immediately following the final buzzer, division commander Sun Xicheng addressed the defeated team on the court while spectators remained in their seats. Commander Sun, a veteran of the War of Resistance Against Japan bearing a visible scar on his temple, delivered a severe reprimand regarding the division’s competitive record and ordered the players transferred to the division reconnaissance company for training.
Assigned guard posts at the division headquarters entrance, players standing near 1.9 meters tall carried folding submachine guns while standing watch. The roster included standout figures such as Wang Jusheng, who later advanced to serve as a division commander and deputy military corps commander, alongside notable shooters and guards who had been recruited specifically for the athletic program.
Rematch Victory Restores Institutional Standing
Operating with renewed intensity and utilizing their physical advantages effectively, the military squad secured a decisive margin of victory. Subsequent encounters between the division teams and visiting academic or regimental opponents saw the division maintain its winning form before the faculty eventually concluded their assignment and returned to Beijing.
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