HANGZHOU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- South defeated North 119-105 in the peak showdown of the 2023-24 season WCBA All-Star Weekend at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium on Sunday, with center Han Xu elected as the event's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Returning to the venue of the Asian Games, players from north and south China continued the tradition of the WCBA All-Star opening ceremony with a vibrant group dance before tip-off. Li Meng from the South team also acted as MC and interacted with the crowd.

Unlike in previous years, this year's All-Star game started with both sets of players maximizing the entertainment factor, allowing fans to enjoy scenes not usually seen in regular games. The North first arranged for Wu Tongtong to back down Han Xu with a mismatch, and then Liu Yutong, Zhang Ru and Pan Zhenqi lifted Li Yuan to complete a dunk. For the South, Li Meng's dribbling sparked cheers, and Han Xu completed a dunk with no defense, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

In the second half, players from both sides intensified both offense and defense. Led by Li Yuan and Liu Yutong, the North gradually narrowed the point difference. The South relied on Han's strong presence in the paint to surge a run in the final quarter, regaining a double-digit lead and maintaining it until the end.

Han scored 37 points and grabbed seven rebounds to be named the game's MVP, while Li Meng added 19 points for the South. On the North side, Luo Xinyu and Wu Tongtong each scored a team-high 17 points.

"I finally got the chance to be the All-Star MVP. I am very lucky and happy. I want to thank everyone for their trust. Also, I fulfilled my dunk dream," Han said after the game.

Also on Sunday, Li Shuangfei won the skills challenge, while Huang Sijing defeated defending champion Dong Ke'er to win the 3-pointer contest. Enditem

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