China men's national basketball team head coach Guo Shiqiang said the program is working toward Olympic qualification while developing younger players, 人民网 reported on Thursday.
Guo's comments came as China advanced through the knockout stage of the Asian Games basketball tournament. According to news.cn, the Chinese team won its quarterfinal matchup to reach the semifinals.
Liao Sanning scored 30 points in China's win over Saudi Arabia, finance.sina.com.cn reported, a result that sent the team into the last four.
Guo framed the Asian Games as a learning opportunity for a squad in transition. Sohu reported that he described the tournament as a chance to give new players game experience, with the Olympic goal in mind. Sina News noted that the roster includes seven players born in the 2000s, and Guo said that youth brings responsibility along with problems that need to be solved.
The coach's stated priorities place immediate tournament results alongside longer-term squad building. China's semifinal opponent and game date were not specified in the available reports.
What to watch next: whether China's young lineup can carry its quarterfinal form into the semifinals, and how the team's Asian Games run shapes its Olympic qualification path.