In a decisive Game 3 of the CBA playoff quarterfinals, the Beijing Shougang men’s basketball team defeated the Guangdong Southern Tigers 88-73 at home, securing their spot in the semifinals against Shanghai. The loss ended Guangdong’s season and extinguished any lingering optimism from their earlier overtime victory in Game 2.
After the game, Guangdong head coach Du Feng hinted that he would not step down voluntarily, stating that the team’s performance this season—finishing fifth in the regular season and exiting in the quarterfinals—was acceptable. This signals that the club may find it difficult to remove him from his position. The outcome stands in stark contrast to the significant investment made by general manager Zhu Fangyu last summer, which included high-profile signings and championship aspirations.
The team’s chemistry never fully materialized, especially after key players like Cui Yongxi and McColl returned from injury in the second half of the regular season. A reported conflict between Jiao Boqiao and Du Feng has made a trade likely during the offseason. From a roster perspective, all three foreign players—Rakocovic, Salinger, and McColl—have been deemed inadequate for Guangdong’s fast-paced system. Salinger’s lack of mobility and shooting, Rakocovic’s defensive struggles against younger players like Zeng Fanbo, and McColl’s limited three-point range have all been liabilities. Chinese players Zhang Haojia and Du Runwang also face uncertain futures due to their similar defensive weaknesses, with only one likely to remain. Additionally, Wang Shaojie’s return to Beijing BeiKong will depend on the buyout price; if it exceeds 20 million yuan, Guangdong may let him go.
In total, up to five players could leave this summer, including Jiao Boqiao, Salinger, McColl, and Rakocovic, as well as either Zhang Haojia or Du Runwang.