Deceased CBA player Ji Zhe mourned on WCBA's Beijing home court
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E-mail Xinhua, December 5, 2019
BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Shougang Basketball Center was filled with sadness on Thursday night as players, coaches and fans paid a one-minute silence tribute to deceased Ji Zhe, former CBA Beijing Ducks captain, prior to the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) match between Beijing and Wuhan.
The three-time Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) title winner died of a lung cancer early on Thursday at the age of 33.
Photos of Ji and flowers were placed in front of a statue memorizing Beijing players hoisting the CBA trophy. Candles on floor formed a "51" representing Ji's jersey number in his career.
Zhang Yunsong, head coach of Beijing women's basketball team, had been Ji's teammates from 2007 to 2010.
Without league match on Wednesday, Zhang went to hospital to meet Ji, and promised that after Beijing's road trip, he would visit Ji again. Zhang never thought it would be the last time.
"I still cannot accept it. He used to be so strong on the court, but within just one day, he has left us forever, at such an early age," Zhang bemoaned.
For Chinese women soccer national team captain Shao Ting, Ji was a positive and humorous guy off the court, while always fighting until the end on the court.
Xiao Chuan became the fan of Beijing basketball teams in 2012-13.
"I didn't think it real at first, but got the same information via different sources," said Xiao Chuan, a former football player but retired earlier than expected due to a serious injury.
"Such a pity when it happened to a player in his golden age of career.
"He is a rim protector of Beijing, no matter against which team in the playoffs. Without him in the paint, Beijing might not have won three titles," said Xiao Chuan.
Ji joined Beijing in 2007. The 2.02-meter power forward was regarded as a good rim protector, contributing to the team on both ends with his jumpers, three-pointers and rebounds, also impressing fans with his passion on the court.
He won the CBA champions in 2012, 2014 and 2015 alongside Stephon Marbury, currently taking charge of the Beijing Royal Fighters. Enditem
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