BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Ducks beat the Shanxi Loongs 104-94 in overtime on Friday night to secure third place in the 2024-2025 CBA Club Cup, capping a gritty performance that head coach Xu Limin hailed as a "mental breakthrough" for his squad.

Xu emphasized the psychological significance of the win. "It was about overcoming mental barriers," he said. "We lost twice to Shanxi in the regular season. Tonight, the players embodied the true spirit of Beijing basketball -- particularly in containing Shanxi's foreign duo."

Xu credited the team's rapid response to their semifinal loss to Shanghai. "After reviewing game footage and refining our strategies in training, the players executed the game plan with precision today. Their focus and discipline in crunch time were exemplary," said Xu.

"This fighting spirit must carry into every remaining game of the CBA third stage. I have full confidence in this team and every individual here," Xu added.

The inaugural CBA Club Cup follows a tournament format. The group stage features four competition zones with five teams each. After a round-robin format, the top two teams of each group advance to the final stage where the eight qualifying teams compete in a single-elimination tournament.

The CBA Club Cup results will not impact the standings of the CBA regular season. Enditem

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